[To study of the nasal mucosa remodeling of allergic rhinitis patients].

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.