RESUMO
OBJECTIVE@#To explore whether there was tissue remodeling in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and detect the protein expressions of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) in the nasal mucosa of these patients.@*METHOD@#Pathologic staining was used to explore the mucosa of the middle turbinate tissues from 16 patients with mild AR, from 12 patients with severe AR, and from 15 non-AR, respect. The infiltrating of eosinophils and damage of epithelium were examined by the hematoxylin-eosin staining; goblet cells were counted by the alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff staining; the percentage area of extracellular matrix was determined by the MT; the protein expressions were measured by ELISA of TGF-beta1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the middle turbinate tissues.@*RESULT@#Compared with the control group, significant eosinophil infiltration and goblet cells were observed in both AR groups (P < 0.05). Evident epithelial damage and extracellular matrix deposition were observed in severe-AR group (P < 0.05). The expressions of TGF-beta1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in AR tissues were significant increased (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The nasal mucosa remodeling was observed in AR groups. The characteristics were as follows: eosinophils infiltration, epithelial damage, goblet cells hyperplasia and extracellular matrix deposition. TGF-beta1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 may play a role in the tissue remodeling processes.