title: Suppression of connexin 26 is related to protease-activated receptor 2-mediated pathway in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Connexin (Cx) 26 plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of tight junctions. However, the expression and modulation of Cx26 in allergic rhinitis (AR) has not been well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We detected the expression of Cx26 in house-dust  mite (HDM)-sensitized AR patients and investigated the Cx26 production and modulation in primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and BEAS-2B cells after treatment with the allergen Der p 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the  mRNA and protein levels of Cx26 were significantly down-regulated in AR patients compared with the control. Der p 1 was found to induce protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) expression and suppress Cx26 production significantly in vitro. PAR2 siRNA was shown to prevent the suppression  of Cx26 induced by Der p 1 in BEAS-2B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suppression of Cx26 in HDM-sensitized AR patients is related to a PAR2-mediated pathway and might serve during the initiation and maintenance of AR. Targeting the PAR2-mediated Cx26 suppression may be a potential  means of preventing allergic sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Cancer Center, Otorhinolaryngology Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yunping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xingling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Wentong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hongtian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Huabin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D000072259:Connexin 26; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1