title: Expression and localization of steroid receptors in human nasal mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) in nasal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human turbinates were obtained after turbinectomy from seven patients. The expression and localization of steroid receptors were examined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using RT-PCR, GR and ER alpha mRNA were detected in all cases. In contrast, ER beta, PR and AR mRNA were found in five, four and six cases, respectively. Using immunohistochemistry, antibodies to GR showed the presence of GR within all cells of nasal mucosa, with the highest quantities of GR being localized in epithelial cells, submucosal glands and inflammatory leukocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis of sex steroid receptor revealed that anti-ER alpha antibody labelled mainly mast cells and anti-ER beta antibody labelled submucosal glands, and that no PR or AR expression was detected in any of the samples tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of ER in mast cells and submucosal glands has not been well clarified. However, precise knowledge of the identity and distribution of sex steroid receptor should be of considerable interest in understanding the role of sex hormones in upper airway diseases such as allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical School, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan. shira@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirasaki
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanaizumi
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shin-Ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid