title: Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in nasal lavage after an inhalation challenge with flour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The existence of nasal mucosa remodeling in allergic rhinitis is controversial. Few data are available on the dynamics of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in nasal fluid after an allergen challenge. We examined whether an immediate allergic reaction that induces nasal congestion and inflammation is able to also induce changes in remodeling parameters in nasal fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with allergic occupational rhinitis due to flour underwent a control and active inhalation challenge with serial monitoring of nasal congestion and nasal symptoms with acoustic rhinometry and a visual analogue scale. Levels of remodeling markers (MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-13, TIMP-1, TIMP-2) and inflammatory cells in nasal fluid were measured before the challenge and at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours following the challenge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to the control challenge, the flour challenge induced nasal symptoms and significant decreases in nasal volume in all subjects. After the flour challenge, a significant increase in nasal levels of TIMP-2 and a nonsignificant increase in TIMP-1 levels were observed, whereas no significant changes in nasal levels of MMPs were documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that after an inhalation challenge with an occupational allergen, the nasal mucosa displayed an imbalance in favor of TIMPs enzymes activity as compared to MMPs enzymes activity, represented in an increase in nasal levels of TIMP-2 during the course of the early reaction following the allergen challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. roberto.castano@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castano
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miedinger
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maghni
authors.forename: Heberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghezzo
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: Lucero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wattiez
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vandenplas
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases