Molecular biological studies on the pathophysiology and prophylactic treatment of postviral olfactory disorder

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The pathogenesis of postviral olfactory disorder (PVOD) has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the secondary damage of olfactory neuroepithelium caused by host immune responses. Intranasal administration of Poly(I:C), which is a synthetic analog of viral double-stranded RNA, induced the inflammatory cells infiltration and the olfactory neuroepithelial damage. The damage was significantly inhibited by a neutrophil elastase inhibitor and was suppressed in neutropenic model mice. These findings suggest that neutrophils are deeply involved in the olfactory neuroepithelial damage. Thus the inhibition of neutrophil-mediated tissue damage could be a prophylactic strategy for PVOD.