title: Transdifferentiation of Clara cell 10-kDa protein secreting cells in experimental allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reasons for the down-regulated Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10) expression in allergic rhinitis (AR) are unclear and the airway remodeling in AR has received little attention. This study explores epithelium remodeling and the change of CC10 secreting cells in AR by using a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  AR murine models were established by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. In some mice, dexamethasone was given before each challenge. Histological changes of nasal mucosa were examined by means of hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining. CC10 and trefoil factor family (TFF) 1 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In AR mice, both in turbinate and in septal mucosa, total cell number and the number of basal cells did not change; however, the number of dome-shaped cells decreased and the number of ciliated and goblet cells increased in turbinate mucosa, and the number of ciliated cells decreased and the number of goblet cells increased in septal mucosa. In turbinate mucosa, the number of CC10(+) cells (mainly dome-shaped cells) decreased whereas the number of TFF1(+) cells (mainly ciliated cells) increased. In septal mucosa, the number of CC10(+) and TFF1(+) cells (mainly ciliated cells) decreased simultaneously. Intermediate phenotypic goblet cells could express CC10 and TFF1. CC10 and TFF1 could be localized in the same cells. Dexamethasone reversed the changes of epithelium significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergen exposure leads to a possible transdifferentiation of CC10 secreting cells into TFF1 secreting cells and/or goblet cells in upper airways. Nasal turbinate and septal epithelium display different patterns of transdifferentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; C556390:Scgb1a1 protein, mouse; C472724:Tff1 protein, mouse; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin; D014598:Uteroglobin