DieOverreactions of the body to allergiesmay be linked to the corticotropin hormone released by stress, according to a new study. The results may help clarify the mechanism by which this stress hormone induces mast cell proliferation. The latter are active substances that are involved in the development of allergies in the human nasal cavity.
The role of the corticotropin hormone in allergies
The study authors say that patients often report allergic symptoms that worsen with psychological stress. When the team added corticotropin hormone to a nasal polyp organ culture, they saw a significant increase in the number of mast cells. This was a stimulation of both cell degranulation and proliferation and an increase in stem cell factor expression. This is a growth factor in mast cells in the human nasal mucosa. Together with professors from the same department participating in the research, the scientists hypothesized that this stress hormone may also be involved in related nasal allergies due to its role in inducing mast cell degranulation in human skin. When examining possible therapeutic angles, researchers have seen the effect of corticotropin on mast cells blocked by CRHR1 gene knockdown, CRHR1 inhibitors, or addition of SCF-neutralizing antibodies.
Psychological stress worsens mast cell-dependent inflammation, including nasal allergy. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet precisely known. The research team found an increase in the number of mast cells in living organisms and degranulation in the nasal mucosa of mouse models of restraint stress. The reason for this was the administration of the CRHR1 inhibitor Antalarmin, which inhibited this. The scientists have not only understood the effects of stress on developing allergies. They have also found promising therapeutic potential in candidates such as the active ingredient Antalarmin. The authorsthis studyadd that this finding represents promising news for patients who often suffer from allergic conditions. Accordingly, this enables the development of therapeutics against perceived stress-induced neuroinflammation of the nasal mucosa.
