title: Phenotypic characteristics of nasal mast cells in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mast cells (MCs) in the nasal respiratory mucosa (NRM) play a triggering role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR). Recent research evidence in mouse models of AR suggests an underlying MC-related allergic response in mouse nasal olfactory mucosa (NOM).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the phenotypic characteristics of nasal MCs in a mouse model of AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  By MC-specific staining and immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the subset, protease and IgE-binding phenotypes of nasal MCs in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized unchallenged and challenged mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In OVA-sensitized challenged mice, increased serum OVA-specific IgE levels (p < 0.001) and eosinophil infiltration confirmed AR induction. In addition to constitutive connective tissue MCs, mucosal MCs were induced in NRM and NOM of OVA-sensitized challenged mice. Connective tissue MCs and mucosal MCs in mouse NRM and NOM were positive for mouse MC protease-1, -4, -5, -6, -7 and carboxypeptidase-A3. In line with MCs in NRM, there were increased numbers (p = 0.019) and proportions (p = 0.027) of MCs with surface-bound IgE in NOM of OVA-sensitized challenged mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the setting of AR, MCs in mouse NOM exhibit the same subset, protease and IgE-binding phenotypes as MCs in mouse NRM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yeqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Gongru
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zhenlin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiuhang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases