Up-regulation of protease-activated receptor 2 in allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the patterns of PAR-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression in the nasal mucosa of subjects with and without allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
Biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 patients with allergic rhinitis and 10 normal controls. RNA was extracted from the nasal mucosa, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for PAR-2. Tissue sections were immunostained for PAR-2 by use of specific antibody.


RESULTS
The expression levels of PAR-2 mRNA in allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa were significantly up-regulated as compared with those in normal nasal mucosa. PAR-2 immunoreactivity was observed in the epithelium and submucosal glands in both normal controls and subjects with allergic rhinitis. Stronger immunoreactivity for PAR-2 was observed in allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa as compared with normal nasal mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that PAR-2 may be involved in allergic nasal inflammation.
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hyo Yeol
HY
Kang
Hee Joon
HJ
Woo
Jeong Soo
JS
Chae
Sung Won
SW
Lee
Sang Hag
SH
Hwang
Soon Jae
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics; D001706:Biopsy; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2