Premium
Over‐Expression of Neuropeptide Urocortin and Its Receptors in Human Allergic Nasal Mucosa
Author(s) -
Kim Tae Hoon,
Lee Sang Hag,
Lee Heung Man,
Lee Seung Hoon,
Lee Se Woo,
Kim Woo Joo,
Park Se Jin,
Kim Yang Soo,
Choe Hwan,
Hwang Ho Yeon,
Yoo Ik One
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e31806db54a
Subject(s) - mucous membrane of nose , receptor , urocortin , lamina propria , intestinal mucosa , pathology , medicine , proinflammatory cytokine , immunology , inflammation , epithelium
Objectives: Urocortin (UCN) is a member of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neuropeptide family. UCN act as locally expressed proinflammatory factor and induce mast cell degranulation, cytokine secretion, and trigger vascular permeability, which are mediated by CRF receptors in peripheral tissues. Considering its functional roles, UCN and its receptors may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic nasal mucosa. Therefore, we investigated the expression profile and distribution of UCN and CRF receptors in normal and allergic nasal mucosa. Methods: Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were applied to the normal and allergic nasal mucosa. Results: The expression levels of UCN and CRF receptors were increased in allergic nasal mucosa in comparison with normal nasal mucosa. In normal nasal mucosa, UCN and CRF receptors were restricted to the vascular endothelium of submucosal cavernous sinusoids where faint staining was found. However, in allergic nasal mucosa, UCN was expressed in small vessels distributed in lamina propria and the vascular endothelium of cavernous sinusoid located in submucosa. Many scattered positive cells were also found in allergic nasal mucosa, probably UCN‐positive leukocytes. CRF receptors were also localized in the vascular endothelium of small vessels and cavernous sinusoid. Conclusions: These results indicate that UCN may play a role in the regulation of vascular swelling in normal nasal mucosa. Moreover, in allergic nasal mucosa, increased expression levels of UCN and its receptors may contribute to increased mucosal swelling and vascular permeability, playing an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.