title: Differential expression of surfactant protein A in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergy symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in human nasal tissue and correlate differential expression of SP-A with symptoms suggestive of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allergic rhinitis symptom data were prospectively collected in the form of the Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index, the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a Visual Analog Scale. Immunohistochemical staining for SP-A was performed on resected nasal tissue. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification of the SP-A gene referenced to beta-actin was performed on complementary DNA samples synthesized from total RNA isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary referral center, department of otolaryngology laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five consecutive patients undergoing nasal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining of SP-A in human nasal mucosa and submucosa, polymerase chain reaction amplification of SP-A messenger RNA, and rhinitis symptom scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunostaining localized SP-A to the mucosa and submucosal glands in specimens. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated correlation between SP-A messenger RNA concentration and the total Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index score (0.51, P = .009) as well as "sneezing over the previous week" (0.40, P = .049), "runny nose over the previous week" (0.55, P = .005), and "sneezing today" (0.47, P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report of SP-A expression in human nasal tissue. Furthermore, the degree of expression correlated with severity of disease as measured by the Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index in patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn, USA. christopher.t.wooten@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wootten
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kirk F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000378:metabolism*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants