[Efficacy and safety analysis with standardized mite allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy in 90 patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the three-year efficacy and safety with standardized dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Ninety patients who were diagnosed as allergic to mite by skin prick test and serum IgE were include in the standardized allergen-specific dose-escalation regimen. Nasal symptom score (0-3) were collected before treatment and three years after treatment; VAS (visual analogue scale, 0-10) of all nasal symptoms and drug use score were collected every four months; frequency of local and systemic reactions were recorded in the duration of dose escalation and maintenance. RESULTS: Nasal blocking, sneeze, rhinorrhea and nasal itch were significantly improved after 3 years treatment (before treatment: 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[1;2] ; after treatment: all were 0[0;0]; Z value were -8.310, -8.408, -8.377, -8.287, all P were 0.000). VAS of all nasal symptoms and drug use score decreased dramatically after escalation period (before treatment: 8.00[7.00;8.85], 2.00[1.50;2.00]; after treatment: 1.00[1.00;1.50], 0 [0;0]; Z value were -8.287, -8.248, P value 0.086, 0.744), and maintained afterwards (F value were 2.483, 0.296; P value were 0.086, 0.744). Ninety-eight case times (64.47%) local reactions mainly happened in maintenance period; the frequency of systemic reactions was 2.54%. CONCLUSION: The standardized specific allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is safe and effective.

[Role of aquaporin 1 in the migration of eosinophils from asthmatic guinea pigs].

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

[Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in nasal polyps].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in nasal polyp (NP) tissues and the role of MCP-1 in the formation of nasal polyps. METHODS: Forty nasal polyp tissues obtained from NP patients were used to detect the expression of MCP-1 and VEGF at the levels of protein and mRNA by immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assay. Twenty-five inferior turbinate (IT) samples obtained from chronic rhinitis patients were used as control. RESULTS: The expression of MCP-1 and VEGF was higher in NP tissue than in IT at protein and mRNA levels (P <0.01). The expression of these two cytokines was positively correlated(r = 0.871, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MCP-1 and VEGF were involved in the formation of nasal polyps.

[Expression of prolactin in macrophage of nasal polyps and its significance].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression level and distribution of prolactin (PRL) in nasal polyp and to find out the significance of the mechanism of PRL in the invasion of nasal polyp. METHODS: Twenty-five polyp tissues were obtained from the patients who were subjected to nasal polypectomy in our Department. Inferior turbinate mucosa was used as control obtained from 12 patients with rhinogenous snoring. HE staining was performed for routine histopathologic examination. The expression of PRL in nasal polyps was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and six polyp tissues were estimated through double staining for determining cells which expressed PRL. RESULTS: (1) Positive expression of PRL was significantly stronger (t =4.004, P < 0.01) in 25 nasal polyp tissues (2.05 +/- 0.88) than that in 12 normal inferior turbinate mucosa (0.96 +/- 0.50). Positive expression of macrophage (CD68) was significantly stronger (t = 3.519, P < 0.01) in 25 nasal polyp tissues (1.85 +/- 0.83) than that in 12 normal inferior turbinate mucosa (0.93 +/- 0.52). (2) The PRL expressing cell mainly was the macrophage as demonstrated by double immunohistochemical method. CONCLUSION: PRL derived from macrophages of nasal mucosa may participate in the formation of nasal polyp through its local immune modulation.

[Expression of aquaporin-1 and Bcl-2 mRNA in eosinophils of the nasal polyps and its significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression in the eosinophils of nasal polyps. The expression and location of AQP-1 mRNA and apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 mRNA in nasal polyps were explored. METHODS: Sixteen nasal polyp samples were collected from 11 women and 5 men aged 20-65 years during routine endonasal surgery. Nasal mucosa specimens from the inferior turbinates of 10 patients with allergic rhinitis (7 women and 3 men, aged 16-58 years), collected during septoplasty, were used as controls. The expression of AQP-1 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA was detected in serial adjacent sections by in situ hybridization and eosinophils were examined by stain MGG. RESULTS: AQP-1 mRNA expression was found in all 16 nasal polyps and in 4 of 10 inferior turbinate tissues, the mean expression rates were (93.16 +/- 13.25)% and (19.54 +/- 4.98)%, respectively. All 16 nasal polyps and 10 control nasal tissues expressed Bcl-2 mRNA, by the average rates of (84.74 +/- 12.10)% and (16.45 +/- 3.12)%, respectively. The expression of AQP-1 mRNA was positively correlated with Bcl-2 mRNA expression in nasal polyps (r = 0.875, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: AQP-1 contributes to the survival of eosinophils in nasal polyps by keeping the permeation balance of eosinophils.