title: Levocetirizine inhibits rhinovirus-induced up-regulation of fibrogenic and angiogenic factors in nasal polyp fibroblasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta, may contribute to the formation of nasal polyps (NPs). Rhinovirus (RV) infection enhances expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF  in NP fibroblasts and of TGF-beta in respiratory epithelial cells. We investigated the inhibitory effects of levocetirizine (LCT) on the RV-induced expression of (1) fibrogenic (MMPs and TGF-beta) and (2) angiogenic (VEGF and TGF-beta) factors in NP fibroblasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  NP  fibroblasts obtained from 11 male patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with NPs (CRSwNPs), were infected with RV serotype 16 (RV-16) for 4 hours. Cells were treated with 50 nM of LCT 24 hours before infection and for 48 hours thereafter. Expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and TGF-β mRNA  and protein were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LCT significantly inhibited RV-induced increases in MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and TGF-beta mRNA, and protein expression, in NP fibroblasts (p <  0.05 for each comparison).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LCT inhibits RV-induced up-regulation of fibrogenic and angiogenic factors in NP fibroblasts, suggesting that LCT may prevent NP formation in patients with CRSwNP caused by RV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Heui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yong Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005355:Fibrosis; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C472067:levocetirizine; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D017332:Cetirizine