title: Role of neutrophil elastase in endotoxin-induced mucus hypersecretion in rat nasal epithelium.
abstract: In the present study, hypertrophic and metaplastic changes of goblet cells were induced in rat nasal epithelium by intranasal instillation of endotoxin or elastase. A significant increase in the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstance was observed after 24 hours during 3 days of instillation. The elastase-induced mucus production was not inhibited in neutrophil-depleted rats, but the endotoxin-induced change was significantly inhibited. Intranasal instillation of the neutrophil elastase inhibitor ONO-5046 partially inhibited the endotoxin-induced mucus production. Epithelial mucus secretion was evaluated by the temporary decrease in the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstance. The endotoxin-induced mucus secretion peaked 3 to 6 hours after intranasal instillation, coinciding with the peak of the intraepithelial neutrophil infiltration. The elastase-induced mucus secretion peaked 1 to 3 hours after intranasal instillation; intraepithelial neutrophil infiltration was not induced by elastase. These results indicate that neutrophil elastase is an important mediator of the intraepithelial mucus synthesis and secretion induced by endotoxin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Majima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakakura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase