title: Epithelial cells in nasal fluids from patients with allergic rhinitis: how do they relate to epidermal growth factor, eosinophils and eosinophil cationic protein?
abstract: The nasal epithelium protects the underlying tissue from damage. Epithelial cell growth is controlled by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and is possibly affected by toxic proteins, e.g. eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). The aims of this study were to examine nasal fluid epithelial cell counts and their relations to EGF, eosinophils and ECP in 23 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy controls. Nasal fluid epithelial cell counts were lower in patients than in controls. EGF levels did not differ between patients and controls, and correlated with epithelial cell counts in controls but not in patients. Eosinophils and ECP were higher in patients than in controls, but did not correlate with epithelial cell counts. The role of growth factors, such as EGF, in regulating epithelial cells merits further study.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Laboratory, Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uddman
authors.forename: Lars Olaf
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Cardell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000473:pathology*; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D012260:Ribonucleases