Inflammatory profiles in nasal mucosa of patients with persistent vs intermittent allergic rhinitis

Background: Allergic rhinitis frequently occurs as a comorbid condition in asthmatic people, suggesting that the upper and lower airways may be immunologically linked. Our research group has developed an experimental aeroallergen model of asthma in cats. We hypothesized that aeroallergen sensitization and challenge would induce morphologic changes in the nasal airways of cats that mimic those observed in the bronchial airways. Methods: Five mixed breed cats were sensitized to Bermuda grass allergen and then serially challenged with aerosolized Bermuda grass allergen to induce an asthmatic phenotype. Four control cats were similarly treated with saline vehicle. Nasal tissues and lungs were processed for histopathological and morphometric analyses. Results: Eosinophilic inflammation, epithelial hypertrophy and mucous cell metaplasia were observed along the pulmonary axial airway mucosa of allergen-sensitized (asthmatic) cats. Mild eosinophilic inflammation was observed in the nasal airways of asthmatic cats. This alteration was confined primarily to the anterior nasal cavity, resulting in an increase in tissue eosinophils at this site compared to controls (p < 0.05). A marked increase in tissue mast cells was observed throughout all regions of the nasal airways of asthmatic cats compared to control cats (p < 0.05). There was no difference in intraepithelial mucosubstances between the nasal airways of controls and asthmatic cats. There was no correlation between upper and lower airway eosinophils or mast cells. Conclusion: Cats with experimentally induced asthma exhibit morphologic changes in the nasal airways that are distinct from the alterations observed in the lungs. These results are similar to those observed in people with comorbid asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Histopathologic and Morphometric Evaluation of the Nasal and Pulmonary Airways of Cats with Experimentally Induced Asthma

Venema

Williams²,

Gershwin

et al. 2012

“…It is possible that symptom frequency and duration, rather than symptom severity, may alter SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression in patients with allergic rhinitis. This suggestion is supported by a study showing that moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis is characterized by a significantly greater eosinophilic and predominantly Th2 cell-mediated nasal inflammatory profile compared to intermittent allergic rhinitis [27]. However, our study did not evaluate patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis, and future studies investigating SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression in these patients may be promising.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 39%

Expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 Is Altered in the Nasal Mucosa of Patients with Mild and Moderate/Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis

Kim

Kim²,

Park³

et al. 2012

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) molecules, SOCS1 and SOCS3, which act as negative regulators of cytokine signaling in various allergic diseases, in patients with mild and moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods: The expression and distribution pattern of SOCS1 and SOCS3 were analyzed in nasal mucosa and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy controls, and patients with mild and moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. IL-4, IL-13, IL-15 and IFN-γ expression was also analyzed in the nasal mucosa of each individual using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: SOCS1 and SOCS3 mRNA and protein expression was significantly increased in the nasal mucosa and PBMC of patients with mild and moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis compared with healthy controls. In healthy and allergic nasal mucosa, they were commonly localized to the epithelium, submucosal glands and endothelium, showing stronger staining intensity in mild and moderate/severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa than in healthy nasal mucosa. Tissue levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were increased in moderate/severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa whereas IL-15 and IFN-γ were decreased in moderate/severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa. Conclusions: Upregulation of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in mild and moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis suggests that SOCS proteins may be important regulators in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and play a role as molecular determinants of allergic rhinitis persistence.

“…Several studies have demonstrated that the expression of GATA-3 is increased significantly in patients with AR compared with healthy controls [17,31]. Liu et al [27] showed that the expression of GATA-3 mRNA is increased significantly in persistent AR patients compared with those with intermittent AR. GATA-3 is also increased in patients with AR following natural exposure during the pollen season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a significant decrease in the T-bet + /GATA-3 + ratio was determined during the pollen season. Liu et al [27] showed that the expression of T-bet mRNA was not significantly different in persistent AR, intermittent AR or control patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulatory-T, T-Helper 1, and T-Helper 2 Cell Differentiation in Nasal Mucosa of Allergic Rhinitis with Olive Pollen Sensitivity

Söğüt¹,

Yılmaz²,

Kırmaz³

et al. 2011

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease in which T-helper (Th)2 response is predominant and its pathogenic mechanism is still poorly understood. Aim: To evaluate the possible role of Th1, Th2 and regulatory-T (Treg) cells in the pathogenesis of AR. Methods: This case-control study enrolled 41 patients with seasonal AR (10–62 years old), sensitive to olive pollens, and 15 healthy controls (18–60 years old). Nasal biopsy was performed and specimens of nasal lavage fluid were obtained from all participants. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were measured in nasal lavage fluid specimens. The expression of FOXP3, GATA-3 and T-bet was measured by immunohistochemical methods in the nasal biopsy specimens. Results: The levels of IFN-γ in the group with AR were significantly lower than those in the control group (p = 0.008). The levels of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β did not differ between the two groups. The expression of FOXP3 and T-bet in patients with AR was significantly lower than that in the control group (both p = 0.001). Expression of GATA-3 in the nasal mucosa was similar between the groups (p = 0.2). The ratios of T-bet/GATA-3 and FOXP3/GATA-3 in the AR group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Insufficient Treg and Th1 cells may be associated with the allergic inflammation that may be attributed to the Th2 immune response in patients suffering from AR who are sensitive to olive pollen.