Up-regulation of protease-activated receptor 2 in allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the patterns of PAR-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression in the nasal mucosa of subjects with and without allergic rhinitis.

METHODS

Biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 patients with allergic rhinitis and 10 normal controls. RNA was extracted from the nasal mucosa, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for PAR-2. Tissue sections were immunostained for PAR-2 by use of specific antibody.

RESULTS

The expression levels of PAR-2 mRNA in allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa were significantly up-regulated as compared with those in normal nasal mucosa. PAR-2 immunoreactivity was observed in the epithelium and submucosal glands in both normal controls and subjects with allergic rhinitis. Stronger immunoreactivity for PAR-2 was observed in allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa as compared with normal nasal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that PAR-2 may be involved in allergic nasal inflammation.