title: Localization and up-regulation of cysteinyl leukotriene-2 receptor in human allergic nasal mucosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. Pharmacological studies using CysLTs indicate that 2 classes of receptors exist, namely, CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors. The former class of receptors is sensitive to the CysLT1 antagonists currently used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis, and its localization has been previously examined by our group using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques. We investigated the expression and localization of the CysLT2 receptor in human nasal mucosa by western blot and immunohistochemical analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human turbinates were obtained after turbinectomy from 16 patients with nasal obstruction refractory to medical therapy. To identify the cells expressing the CysLT2 receptor, double immunostaining was performed by using anti-CysLT2 receptor antibody and anti-CD31 (endothelial cell) antibody or anti-smooth muscle actin antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 39 kDa band was detected on the western blots of human turbinates samples by using the anti-CysLT2 receptor antibody. The expression level of the CysLT2 receptor in patients with nasal allergy was higher than that in patients with non-allergic rhinitis. The immunohistochemical study also showed an intense immunoreactivity for CysLT2 receptor in both vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that the CysLT2 receptor plays a primary role in the vascular responses in the upper respiratory tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan. shira@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirasaki
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanaizumi
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000378:metabolism*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; C412375:cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2