title: Increased expression of arginase I and II in allergic nasal mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is known that arginase may be a regulator of diverse pathways, including production of nitric oxide (NO). Increased expression of arginase has been reported in several inflammatory lung diseases, including allergic asthma, suggesting that this may be a common feature underlying the pathophysiology of airway hyperreactivity. Thus, arginase I and II may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. The distribution pattern and level of expression of arginase I and II were therefore determined in normal and allergic nasal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled, prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distribution pattern and level of expression of arginase I and II in normal and allergic nasal mucosa were evaluated using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of expression of arginase I and II mRNA was increased in allergic nasal mucosa in comparison with normal nasal mucosa. In normal nasal mucosa, arginase I and II were expressed in the surface epithelium, submucosal glands, vascular endothelium, and fibroblasts. In allergic nasal mucosa, both enzymes were also localized to similar sites, in addition to inflammatory cells, and the level of expression were greatly increased compared with normal nasal mucosa. These findings were verified by Western blotting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that arginase I and II may play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis, and suggest the possible role of the L-arginine metabolic pathway through modulation of L-arginine availability as a substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginase in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Daejin Medical Center, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Hyoung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heung Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Euy Hyun
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kang Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Hag
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001119:Arginase / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C477631:ARG2 protein, human; D001119:Arginase