Loss of the sense of smell commonly occurs in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and has major impacts on quality of life and patient safety. The pathophysiology behind the olfactory loss observed in CRS is not clearly understood, but animal models suggest that chronic inflammation, a hallmark of CRS, may result in a loss of mature or functional olfactory neurons and an inhibition in olfactory neuron regeneration. CRS results in an influx of inflammatory cells and elevated levels of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-?, IL-1?, IL-6, IL-17, and IFN-?. These cytokines, in particular, have the potential to negatively modulate neuronal regeneration and the process of neurogenesis, both of which can cause transient or permanent loss of functional neurons. Inhibition of these regenerative pathways is typically mediated through a combination of: 1) effects on neuronal cell migration or differentiation, 2) Inhibition of neuronal progenitor cell proliferation, or 3) induction of neuronal progenitor cell death or apoptosis. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that neurotoxic pro-inflammatory cytokines are overexpressed in CRS and that alteration in cytokine expression and function contributes to CRS-related inflammation and olfactory loss. We will test this hypothesis using human-derived olfactory tissue, including mechanistic studies that directly assess the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on olfactory neurons and neuronal progenitor cells.
Aim 1 will assess the expression of neurotoxic cytokines in human olfactory tissue and determine whether cytokine expression correlates with objective measures of olfactory function.
Aim 2 will determine whether receptors for pro-inflammatory cytokines are expressed on human olfactory neurons and neuronal progenitor cells and will assess the effects of individual cytokines on cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We hypothesize that pro-inflammatory cytokines, acting through cognate receptors expressed on olfactory neurons and neuronal progenitor cells, negatively modulate olfactory neuron survival and regeneration. Findings from this study will provide insight into the mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction observed in CRS and may help to identify specific therapeutic targets for the selective treatment of CRS-associated olfactory loss.

Public Health Relevance

Loss of the sense of smell is common in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and has substantial impacts on patient safety and quality of life. This proposal focuses on pro-inflammatory cytokines with neurotoxic potential as possible causative factors in rhinosinusitis-associated olfactory loss. Analysis of human-derived olfactory tissue will help clarify mechanisms of inflammation-associated olfactory dysfunction, with the potential for identification of specific therapeutic targets.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DC014809-01
Application #
8959192
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sullivan, Susan L
Project Start
2015-08-01
Project End
2016-04-29
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-04-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37240
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Morse, Justin C; Shilts, Meghan H; Ely, Kim A et al. (2018) Patterns of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis identified by hierarchical cluster analysis and machine learning algorithms. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol :
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Hauser, Leah J; Chandra, Rakesh K; Li, Ping et al. (2017) Role of tissue eosinophils in chronic rhinosinusitis-associated olfactory loss. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 7:957-962
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