title: Detection of surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D in human nasal mucosa and their regulation in chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The nasal mucosa is characterized by a multirow high prismatic ciliated epithelium representing the first barrier of the immune defense system against microbial and other environmental pathogenic influences. A number of nonspecific defense mechanisms, including the presence of lactoferrin, peroxidases, proteases, interferons, and lysozymes in nasal secretions, act to counter inflammatory processes. The surfactant proteins (SPs) known from the lungs are important components of the innate immune system. They also influence the rheology of fluids and reduce the surface tension of gas-fluid interphases. The objective of this study was to investigate the protein expression of all four SPs. A specific aim was detection and characterization of SP-C, which had previously not been confirmed in human nasal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of mRNA for SP-A, -B, -C and -D was investigated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on samples of both healthy nasal mucosa and nasal mucosa altered by inflammatory processes (allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis). The distribution of all four proteins was determined with monoclonal antibodies using Western blot analysis as well as immunohistochemical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that all four SPs, including SP-C not detected before this, are nasal mucosa components. A shift was also observed in the expression behavior of the SP-A, -B, and -D in nasal mucosa with inflammatory changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, SPs appear to have an important function in immunologic and rheological process of the nasal mucosa and support the prospective therapeutic use of liposomal nasal sprays.
authors: Department of Anatomy II, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. martin.schicht@anatomie2.med.uni-erlangen.de
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Schicht
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Knipping
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Hirt
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Beileke
authors: Saadettin
authors: S
authors: Sel
authors: Friedrich
authors: F
authors: Paulsen
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Bräuer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037721:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037721:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; C105511:surfactant protein B propeptide