Effects of minimal persistent inflammation on nasal mucosa of experimental allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an animal model of minimal persistent inflammation (MPI) of allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs and to investigate the changes of nasal mucosa. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) were discussed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Hartley guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups: MPI model group and control group randomly, with fifteen animals in each group. Guinea pigs from MPI model group were sensitized intraperitoneally by injection of suspension of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide in 0.9% physiological saline. Then, repeated local booster sensitization with low concentration of OVA suspension into the nasal cavity was performed to establish MPI models. Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining and Masson's trichrome (MT) staining were used to determine the number of goblet cells and collagen deposition within the basement membrane of epithelium. The expression and distribution of TGF-beta1 and MMP-9 in nasal mucosa were estimated by double immunofluorescence under a confocal laser scan microscopy system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the increased goblet cells (t = 13.720, P < 0.05) in nasal epithelium together with the increased collagen fibrils (t = 4.542, P <0.05) within the basement membrane of epithelium were observed in the MPI model group. There was nearly no expression of TGF-beta1, in the control group and the expression of MMP-9 was only found in the epithelium cell. In contrast, there was significantly higher expression of TGF-beta1 and MMP-9 (t = 25.218, P <0.05) in nasal mucosa of MPI model group than that in control group. TGF-beta1 mainly expressed in the epithelium cell, the infiltrated inflammatory cell and extracellular matrix, while MMP-9 expressed in the epithelium cell and the infiltrated inflammatory cell.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Long time MPI in allergic rhinitis resulted in some changes of tissue remodeling in nasal mucosa. TGF-beta1 and MMP-9 may play an important role in disease progression.</p>

Role of aquaporin 1 in the migration of eosinophils from asthmatic guinea pigs / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in the migration of eosinophils (EOS) and to determine if AQP-1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Asthma model of guinea pigs were developed and EOS were purified from both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The smears of EOS were studied by in situ hybridization for determining AQP1 mRNA and immunofluorescence under laser scanning confocal microscope for determining AQP1 protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AQP1 was found expressed in EOS both from peripheral blood and from BALF. Compared with the expression of AQP1 mRNA (mean grey value 109.200 +/- 5.756, x +/- s) and protein (average fluorescence intensity 279.926 +/- 11.293) in EOS from BALF, there was stronger expression of AQP1 mRNA (92.904 +/- 3.290) and protein (425.081 +/- 17.474) in EOS from peripheral blood. The difference both of AQP1 mRNA (t = 9.519, P < 0.05) and protein(t = 27.020, P < 0.05) were considered statistically significant respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AQP1 plays a crucial role in EOS movement. It is possible that EOS produce more AQP1 protein to accelerate its migration to inflammatory tissues under allergic disease and EOS with AQP1 highly expressed are activated. AQP1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.</p>

Establishment and significance of the experimental minimal persistent inflammation models in allergic rhinitis guinea pigs / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an animal model of minimal persistent inflammation (MPI) in allergic rhinitis guinea pigs and to investigate its significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Hartley guinea pigs were divided into four groups: group A (positive control group), B (MPI model group), C (negative group) and D (bland group) respectively, with fifteen animals in each group. Guinea pigs from group A, B and C were sensitized intraperitoneally by injection of suspension of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide in 0.9% physiological saline. Then, repeated local booster sensitization with different concentration of OVA suspension (1% and 0.01%) or physiological saline into the nasal cavity of those guinea pigs were performed. For group D, physiological saline was used only. Symptoms (sneezing) of guinea pigs after antigen challenge were observed and the infiltration of eosinophils (EOS) together with the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the nasal epithelial cells were also examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When challenged with 1% OVA, the sneezing number of guinea pigs in group B was increased markedly than that in group D (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference between group B, A and C (P > 0.05). When challenged with 0.01% OVA, the symptom of sneezing almost disappeared in group B just like that in group D and there was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Besides, there was still more EOS infiltrated in the nasal mucosa of guinea pigs in group B than that in group D (P < 0.05). There was no expression of ICAM-1 in nasal epithelium of guinea pigs in group D, nevertheless, ICAM-1 was found mildly expressed in group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MPI models have been established successfully through long term challenge with lower density of OVA in the sensitized guinea pigs, which will provide us with a new method for further research in the mechanism and treatment of allergic rhinitis.</p>