title: Clinical and laboratory studies of the fate of intranasal allergen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The precise way in which allergen is handled by the nose is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine recovery of Der p 1 allergen following nasal administration and to determine whether Der p 1 can be detected in nasal biopsies after natural exposure and nasal challenge to allergen.
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) 20 nonatopic non-rhinitics were challenged with Der p 1 and recovery was measured by ELISA in the nasal wash, nasal mucus and induced sputum up to 30 minutes. Particulate charcoal (<40 μm) served as control. (2) In 8 subjects (5 atopics), 30 to 60 minutes after challenge histological localisation of Der p 1 in the nasal mucosal epithelium, subepithelial mucous glands and lamina propria was performed. Co-localisation of Der p 1 with macrophages and IgE-positive cells was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Less than 25% of total allergen was retrievable after aqueous or particulate challenge, most from the nasal mucus during 1-5 min after the challenge. The median of carbon particles recovered was 9%. (2) Prechallenge Der p 1 staining was associated with the epithelium and subepithelial mucous glands. After challenge there was a trend for greater Der p 1 deposition in atopics, but both atopics and nonatopics showed increases in the number of Der p 1 stained cells and stained tissue compartments. In atopics, increased eosinophils, macrophages and IgE positive cells co-localized with Der p 1 staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Der p 1 allergen is detected in nasal tissue independent of atopic status after natural exposure. After challenge the nose effectively retains allergen, which remains mucosally associated; in atopics there is greater Der p 1 deposition and inflammatory response than in nonatopics. These results support the hypothesis that nasal mucus and tissue act as a reservoir for the inhaled Der p 1 allergen leading to a persistent allergic inflammatory response in susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: Allergen Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rimmer
authors.affiliation: Allergen Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Allergen Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yli-Panula
authors.affiliation: Allergen Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.affiliation: Allergen Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D009666:Nose / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens