Objective To explore the expression of substance P (SP), neurokinin/tachykinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in peripheral blood of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Methods From January 2020 to December 2020, 15 CSU patients diagnosed and treated in the Dermatology Department of Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital were selected, and 15 healthy people were selected as the control group. The levels of SP and NK1R in peripheral blood of CSU patients and controls were analyzed by flow cytometry, the expression of ECP in peripheral blood of the two groups was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).

Results Compared with the control group, the expression of NK1R and ECP in the CSU group was significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (14.52%±0.932% vs 5.836%±0.882%, 14.54±1.255 ng/mL vs 7.456±0.982 ng/mL; P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in SP expression between CSU group and control group (1.907%±0.421% vs 1.813%±0.269%). Through Pearson correlation analysis, serum ECP level was positively correlated with NK1R (r=0.535 7, P < 0.05), no correlation with SP.

Conclusion The expression of NK1R and ECP is increased in patients with CSU, and there is a positive correlation, but SP is not significantly increased. NK1R may promote eosinophils to release ECP and participate in the occurrence and development of CSU.