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BackgroundAllergic rhinitis (AR) has been reported to be associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of AR on nasal mucosa remodeling in CRS.MethodsPatients were enrolled and divided into the following groups: CRS with nasal polyps (NP) with allergic rhinitis (AR)(CRSwNPwAR; n = 20), CRS with NP without AR (CRSwNPsAR; n = 20), CRS without NP with AR (CRSsNPwAR; n = 20), CRS without NP without AR (CRSsNPsAR; n = 20), AR without CRS (AR; n = 20) and controls (n = 14). Eosinophil infiltration, mucus production, and collagen deposition were examined by hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid schiff and masson’s trichrome staining, respectively. VEGF-A and microvessel density were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of remodeling markers, including TGF-β1, MMP-7, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured by Western blot.ResultsThe expression of remodeling factors, including VEGF-A, CD31, CD34 and TIMP-1 were significantly increased in CRSwAR compared to CRSsAR. Goblet cell hyperplasia, as well as VEGF-A, CD31, CD34, and MMP-9 expression were significantly higher in CRSwNPwAR compared to CRSwNPsAR. However, the expression of collagen fibers, MMP-7 and TGF-β1 were significantly higher in CRSsNPwAR compared to CRSsNPsAR.ConclusionsAR could enhance the remodeling process in CRS. Moreover, AR had different effects on CRSwNP and CRSsNP.

Background: It has been reported that semaphorin 3A (sema3A) could improve allergic symptoms in allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. However, the immunomodulatory roles of sema3A in AR remain unclear. This study was performed to determine the immunoregulatory effects of sema3A on airway inflammation in an AR mice model. Methods:First, sema3A expression was measured in the serum of AR patients and also in a mice model. Then, nasal symptoms, ovalbumin (OVA)-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) production, cytokine levels, and histologic structure were analyzed in OVA-sensitized mice, sema3A mice, mice given saline, and controls. The percentages of CD4 + IL-4 + IFN-γ -Th2 cells, CD4 + IFN-γ + IL-4 -Th1 cells, CD4 + IL-17 + Th17 cells, and CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells in the spleen were also analyzed.Results: Serum sema3A levels in both AR patients and OVA-sensitized mice decreased significantly compared with controls. The intranasal administration of sema3A reduced allergic symptom scores, eosinophil infiltration, and OVA-specific IgE production in OVA-sensitized mice. In addition, levels of IL-4 and IL-17 as well as percentages of CD4 + IL-17 + Th17 cells were suppressed by sema3A administration. Levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 and ratios of CD4 + IFNγ + IL-4 -Th1/CD4 + IL-4 + IFN-γ -Th2 cells, as well as percentages of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells, were increased by administration of sema3A. Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that sema3A suppressed allergic inflammation in AR via inhibition of Th2/Th17 responses and enhancement of Th1/Treg responses. C 2018 ARS-AAOA, LLC. How to Cite thisArticle: Xiang R, Xu Y, Zhang W, et al. Semaphorin 3A inhibits allergic inflammation by regulating immune responses in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2019;9:528-537.

Objective:To determine associations between sicca symptoms, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms and asthma in a community survey.Methods:Data was obtained from the Spring 2009 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey which sampled, via interviewer administered questionnaire, 3007 individuals aged 15 years and over whose socio-demographic distribution corresponded to South Australian population estimates. Respondents were asked a range of questions relating to the presence of persistent dry eyes or dry mouth, CRS and medically diagnosed nasal polyps and asthma. Relationships between symptoms were explored using maximum likelihood dependency tree analysis.Results:The respective population prevalences were: dry mouth (5.9%), dry eyes (8.6%), nasal polyps (3.8%), CRS (13.2%) and asthma (12.0%). The overall prevalence of sicca symptoms (dry eyes or dry mouth) was 12.4%. Dependency tree analysis revealed the expected symptom clustering between (1) sicca symptoms and their association with female gender and increasing age and (2) CRS, nasal polyps and asthma (one airway hypothesis). However there was also an association between dry eyes and CRS (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9, 3.4), which was in fact stronger than the association between CRS and asthma (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4, 2.5).Conclusions:Sicca symptoms are common in the community. Our novel finding of a strong association between dry eyes and CRS suggests that further research into the relationship between airway inflammation and sicca symptoms is required. These findings may have particular relevance to Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) in both its primary and secondary forms.

Background Over the past decade, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in China increased and showed a trend of younger age. The clinical features of AR in primary schoolchildren are still not clear enough. Objective To investigate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of AR among 6- to 12-year-old children in the central region of China. Methods Children from 6 primary schools were randomly selected from urban area of Wuhan, which lies in the central region of China. The questionnaires were distributed by mobile APP and filled out by the children and their parents online together. AR was diagnosed by Score for Allergic Rhinitis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for AR. Results A total of 5550 valid questionnaires were returned for evaluation. The prevalence of AR among 6- to 12-year-old children in urban area of Wuhan was 28.6%. Multivariate analysis revealed that male (odds ratio [OR] = 1.521, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.335, 1.732]), family history of atopy (OR = 3.220, 95% CI = [2.818, 3.681]), previous food allergy (OR = 1.590, 95% CI = [1.302, 1.942]), air purifier (OR = 1.420, 95% CI = [1.240, 1.625]), exposure to dust (OR = 1.764, 95% CI = [1.410, 2.207]), maternal exposure to smoke during pregnancy (OR = 1.242, 95% CI = [1.047, 1.473]), living in towns (OR = 1.468, 95% CI = [1.043, 2.006]) or metropolis (OR = 1.629, 95% CI = [1.205, 2.201]) before 2 years old, frequent application of antibiotics are risk factors for AR, while daily outdoor time for more than 1 hour (OR = 0.770, 95% CI = [0.673, 0.881]) and breastfeeding for more than 6 months (OR = 0.799, 95% CI = [0.701, 0.910]) reduced the risk significantly. Conclusions We found an unexpectedly high prevalence of AR among primary schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years in the central region of China. Both genetic and environmental factors were associated with the development of AR.