Immunological localization of neuropeptide-degrading enzymes in the nasal mucosa

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP, EC 3.4.24.11), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) and carboxypeptidase N (CPN, EC 3.4.17.3) are potentially important enzymes which regulate the degradation of neuropeptides, such as bradykinin (BK) and substance P (SP), in the respiratory mucosa. Some neuropeptides are also degraded by these enzymes in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the localization of these enzymes in the human nasal mucosa by an indirect immunohistochemical technique (immunogold silver staining). NEP-immunoreactive areas were present in the epithelium, the serous cells of the submucosal glands, and the endothelial cells of small vessels. The epithelium and the serous cells were the predominant areas of NEP immunoreactivity in the nasal mucosa. ACE-immunoreactive areas were seen in the outer layer of the epithelium, the endothelial cells of vessels, and widely distributed in the superficial lamina propria. The endothelial cells of the vessels showed maximum positive intensity to ACE. CPN-immunoreactive areas were observed in the epithelium, the endothelium of vessels and the superficial lamina propria, except for the gland cells. The superficial lamina propria exhibited maximum immunoreactivity for CPN. We observed that the enzymes were widely distributed in the nasal mucosa. The epithelium, including the epithelial cells and glycocalyx, contains all three enzymes. These enzymes play an important role in the mucosal immunity of the respiratory mucosa by degrading active neuropeptides. These results show that NEP secretion is regulated by a glandular, cholinergic control. On the other hand, ACE and CPN secretion are regulated by vascular permeability.