Vascular endothelial growth factor produced in nasal glands of perennial allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a pleiotropic polypeptide that mediates endothelial cell-specific responses such as induction of angiogenesis and vascular leakage, is hyperproduced in a variety of inflammatory disorders. In asthma, VEGF hyperproduction promotes mucosal edema by enhancing vascular leakage. However, in allergic rhinitis, details of the pathophysiological importance remain unclear. This study was designed to investigate and discuss the pathophysiological significance of VEGF in nasal secretions from perennial allergic rhinitis sufferers.


METHODS
Seven allergic rhinitis patients sensitized with house-dust mites and 12 chronic rhinosinusitis patients were enrolled. Nasal secretion VEGF was quantified and compared between groups. In allergic rhinitis cases, nasal lavage VEGF was estimated before and after the antigen provocation. Nasal gland VEGF was immunohistochemically investigated. VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in serous and mucous acini were analyzed by laser microdissection and light cycler-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
VEGF levels in nasal secretions and nasal lavage from allergic rhinitis were higher than in nonallergic rhinosinusitis, after rather than before antigen provocation. VEGF mRNA expression was higher in serous versus mucous acini. These results are consistent with the immunohistochemistry results.


CONCLUSIONS
In allergic rhinitis, there was significant VEGF production in serous acini, which was hypersecreted after antigen provocation. VEGF may play an important role in pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis.
Matsune
Shoji
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Field of Sensory Organology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. shoji@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Ohori
Junichiro
J
Sun
Dong
D
Yoshifuku
Kosuke
K
Fukuiwa
Tatsuya
T
Kurono
Yuichi
Y
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A