Upregulation of oncostatin m in allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Oncostatin M is a multifunctional cytokine belonging to the interleukin-6 family of cytokines. It has been implicated as an important modulator of lower airway remodeling in the setting of asthma. However, there have been few studies regarding a similar role for the upper airway epithelium in the setting of allergic rhinitis. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of oncostatin M mRNA and protein in normal and allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa and to localize the expression of the oncostatin M protein in allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
Inferior turbinate mucosa samples from 20 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and 20 matched normal control subjects were obtained. Oncostatin M mRNA was extracted from the inferior turbinate mucosae, then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed and analyzed semiquantitatively. Differences in expression levels of oncostatin M protein between samples from allergic rhinitis patients and normal control subjects were analyzed through Western blot, and oncostatin M protein was localized immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
The expression levels of oncostatin M mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated in patients with allergic rhinitis mucosa. Oncostatin M protein was predominantly localized in the surface epithelium, infiltrating inflammatory cells, vascular endothelium, and submucosal glands and was more strongly expressed in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis than in normal control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncostatin M is expressed in the human nasal mucosa and is upregulated in the setting of allergic nasal inflammation. These results suggest a possible contribution of oncostatin M in the remodeling of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis.
Kang
Hee Joon
HJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Disorder, Institute of Medical Science Research Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Jae Seong
JS
Lee
Sang Hag
SH
Hwang
Soon Jae
SJ
Chae
Sung Won
SW
Woo
Jeong-Soo
JS
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053683:Oncostatin M; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C508351:OSM protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053683:Oncostatin M