ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint injection at "Yingxiang"(LI 20) and "Yintang"(GV 29) on nasal allergic reactions and the expression of histamine receptor H 1 and H 4 in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis (AR) rats, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of AR. METHODS: SD rats were randomized into normal, model, non-acupoint injection and acupoint injection groups (n=8 in each). The AR model was established by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of mixture of ovalbumin, aluminium hydroxide gel and normal saline (once every other day, for 7 times), and nasal drip of ovalbumin (on the following day of i.p.for 7 days). The mixture solution of lidocaine, dexamethasone (DXM) and transfer factor (0.1 mL/acupoint or non-acupoint) was injected into bilateral LI 20 and GV 29 in the acupoint injection group, or into the non-acupoints (about 5 cm below the armpit on both sides, and the middle point between the left "Houhai"[GV 1] and "Huantiao"[GB 30]), on the 1st , 5th, 9th, and 13th day after modeling. Symptoms of sneezing, nasal discharge, nose-rubbing, etc. were scored after the treatment. The expression levels of H1 R and H4 R proteins and genes in the nasal mucosa tissue were determined using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the symptom score and the expression levels of H1 R, H4 R proteins and genes in nasal mucosa were significantly increased in the model group (P0.05), suggesting a specificity of the effect of acupoint injection. CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection can relieve the allergic symptoms of AR rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the over expression of H1 R and H4 R proteins and genes in the nasal mucosa.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]This study was designed to discover the expression of histamine H4 receptor in allergic rhinitis(AR)and its clinical significance.[Methods]Seventy-three patients with allergic rhinitis and 30 volunteers were recruited in our study.Western blot and Real-time fluorescent quantification PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of H4R on peripheral blood monocytes(PBMC).To analyze the relationship between the H4R and allergic rhinitis,the level of serum interleukin 4(IL-4)and interleukin 12(IL-12)were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbnent assay(ELISA)in the AR group.[Results]The protein and mRNA expression of H4R in the AR group were significantly higher than that in the NAR group.Person correlation analysis revealed that H4R was positively correlated with IL-4(r=0.71,P＜0.01)and negatively correlated with IL-12(r=-0.50,P＜0.01).The expression of H4R also had positive relationship with IL-4/IL-12 ratio(r=0.75,P＜0.01).[Conclusion]These results indicate that histamine H4 receptor is closely related with allergic rhinitis and is important in the pathogenesis of AR.The elevated expression of H4R in AR patients' PBMC may be closely correlated with Th1/Th2 balance.
ABSTRACT
HH 4R, a novel histamine receptor, was found in recent years. HH 4R posses unique pharmacological character and special tissue distribution,which has high homology compared with the H 3 receptor.In this article,we review various aspects of HH 4R,such as gene formation, tissue distribution, homologous analysis, signal transduction pathway, histamine ligand affinity,and so on, and preview future study on HH 4R.