OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential characteristics of plasma mircoRNA (miRNA) expression profile in the patients of moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis treated with acupuncture so as to provide an index for screening the potential biomarkers of acupuncture efficacy. METHODS: Of 33 patients of moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis underwent acupuncture, the superior efficacy patients (superior efficacy group, 3 cases) and the inferior efficacy patients (inferior efficacy group, 3 cases) were selected. Using human miRNA microarray technology, the differences in plasma miRNA expression before and after treatment were analyzed in the patients of two groups. Besides, 10 cases of superior efficacy and 10 cases of inferior one were selected respectively among the patients of moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis treated with same acupuncture regimen; and the real-time PCR was used to validate miRNAs of differential expression determined by microarray technology. The bioinformatics analysis was performed for miRNAs of significant differences in expression so as to predict the potential functional target genes, and then, the predicted target genes were annotated in reference with the databases of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG). RESULTS: Before treatment, there were 51 miRNAs of differential expression between two groups, of which, the expression levels of 26 miRNAs were up-regulated and those of 25 miRNAs were down-regulated. Compared with before treatment, 33 miRNAs presented differential expression in the superior efficacy group after treatment. The results of real-time PCR showed that the expression levels of hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-494-3p and hsa-miR-574-5p were consistent with the results of microarray analysis in tendency. GO/KEGG analysis indicated that miRNAs with significant differences of expression between two groups were involved in regulating various biological processes, molecular functions and signaling pathways. CONCLUSION Plasma miRNA-mediated biological processes may be associated with the efficacy response of acupuncture in treatment of moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis. Plasma miRNAs of differential expression may be the potential non-invasive biomarkers to predict the effectiveness of acupuncture on moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy* ; Signal Transduction

Objective: Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) and perennial AR, so as to obtain the differences in the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells between seasonal AR and perennial AR. Methods: The human nasal epithelial cell line(HNEpC) was cultured in vitro, treated with 100 μg/ml mugwort or house dust mite (HDM) extracts for 24 hours. Total cell RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). From November 2019 to November 2020, 3 seasonal AR patients, 3 perennial AR patients, and 3 healthy controls who attended the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were analyzed. The patients' primary nasal epithelial cells were cultured in vitro, treated with corresponding allergens for 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the sequencing results were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results: The qPCR results showed that the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and TSLP of HNEpC treated with mugworts extracts and HDM extracts had the same trend of change. After the nasal epithelial cells from patients with seasonal AR and perennial AR were treated with corresponding allergens, there were differences in biological processes and signal pathways between those and control. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in AR patients allergic to mugwort were mainly enriched in the oxidation-reduction process, the negative regulation of apoptosis process, and the cell adhesion; the DEG in AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cell adhesion, the negative regulation of cell proliferation and the response to drug. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway showed that the DEG of AR patients allergic to mugwort were significantly enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism, p53 signaling pathway and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, while the DEG of AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cells cycle, Fanconi anemia pathway and DNA replication. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that the inflammatory response, TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway and IL-2/STAT5 signaling pathway were significantly up-regulated in AR patients allergic to mugwort, indicating the promotion of inflammatory response; and AR patients allergic to HDM had significant down-regulation of G2M, E2F, and MYC, indicating the inhibition of cell proliferation. The protein-protein interaction network showed that TNF and CDK1 were the most interacting proteins in mugwort and HDM allergic AR patients, respectively. Conclusion: Seasonal AR and perennial AR may affect the different biological processes and signal pathways of nasal epithelial cells, leading to differences in the occurrence and development of AR.
Allergens ; Animals ; Computational Biology ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interleukin-33/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8 ; Nasal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/metabolism* ; Pyroglyphidae ; RNA/metabolism* ; Rhinitis, Allergic/metabolism* ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of Eotaxin and the effect of histamine in allergic rhinitis model (AR), and aim to explore the pathogenesis of AR. METHOD: The AR models were established by application of ovum albumin in rats. The expression of Eotaxin in nasal mucosa, serum and nasal cavity lavage fluid, were observed before and after treatment of histamine or its antagonist by immunochemistry, RT-PCR and ELISA technique. RESULT: The expression of Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid and nasal mucosa increased after treatment of histamine (P < 0.05). Contrarily, the expression of Eotaxin in nasal lavage fluid, nasal mucosa and serum decreased after treatment of the antagonist of histamine. CONCLUSION Both histamine and its receptor can involve in the pathogenesis of AR by affecting the expression of Eotaxin.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL11 ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Female ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among the expressions of NF-kappaB, Eotaxin and the effects of tripterine in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis rat and to discuss the possible mechanism of tripterine on allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Forty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: OVA group,tripterine group (T group), DM group, and SC group. Allergic rhinitis model was established by OVA. The pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The expressions of NF-kappaB and Eotaxin were examined by SP immunohistochemical analysis. RESULT: There was no pathological change in SC group. Nasal mucosa in T and DM group was swelling,and there were some inflammatory cells. Nasal mucosa in OVA group was highly swelling, and there were abundant inflammatory cells. NF-kappaB and Eotaxin expression in OVA group was significantly different from the other three groups (P<0.01). And no difference was observed between T and DM groups (P>0.05). The expression of NF-kappaB in OVA group had positive correlation with the expression of Eotaxin (r=0.908, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tripterine can inhibit expression of Eotaxin by restraining the activation of NF-kappaB.
Animals ; Chemokine CCL11 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nasal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Animals ; Chemokine CCL11 ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Respiratory Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo confirm the expression and distribution of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in rat nasal mucosa of experimental allergic rhinitis and to investigate the relationship between AQP5 and allergic rhinitis.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy Wistar rats both male and female weighting 200-300 g were divided into two groups randomly, one was testing group (n = 12), the other was comparing group (n = 12). Generally sensitized rats in testing group were given repeated local booster sensitization into nasal cavity. Twelve normal rat nasal mucosa and twelve nasal mucosa from rat with allergic rhinitis were used. The distribution of AQP5 in normal rat nasal mucosa and nasal mucosa in rat with allergic rhinitis were observed by immunofluorescence technique. Furthermore, the expression of AQP5 in normal rat nasal mucosa and nasal mucosa from rat with allergic rhinitis were studied by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSHematoxylin and eosin staining showed that there was obvious inflammation reaction, a large quantity of glands hyperplasia and acidophils soaked in nasal mucosa from rat with allergic rhinitis. (2) Both immunofluorescence technique and immunohistochemical staining showed that the distribution of AQP5 in normal rat nasal mucosa was in accordance with that in nasal mucosa from rat with allergic rhinitis on the whole. AQP5 expressed mainly in the membrane and cytoplasm of the epithelium in the glands, ducts and cilia. (3) The statistical analysis of the immunohistochemical staining showed that the quantity of AQP5 in rat nasal mucosa with allergic rhinitis (156.37 +/- 1.93) was obviously higher than that in the normal rat nasal mucosa (178.52 +/- 1.94). There was statistical significance between the two groups (t = 28.08, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe hypersecretion of glands has a close relationship with the high expression of AQP5 in allergic rhinitis.

Animals ; Aquaporin 5 ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism

Humans ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and significance of related receptors of Notch signaling pathway in mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Sixteen BALB/c mice of seven-eight weeks old were randomly assigned to two groups,including controls group and model group. AR model mice was sensitized with ovalbumin(OVA). Symptom score, hematoxylin-eosin for pathological alteration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa were analyzed as well as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was taken to detect IgE in pe- ripheral serum. Nasal septum mucosa and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 16 BALB/c mouse(8 Allegic rhinitis,8 controls). Notch 1-4 were checked by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry from different levels. RESULT: BALB/c mice model of allergic rhinitis was established successfully. The mRNA of Notch1, Notch3, Notch4 in nasal septum mucosa of allergic rhinitis mice model groups were obviously higher than that in normal controls, and the difference were statistically significant (P < 0.01). However, The expression of Notch2 is lower than the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In line with the above, the protein expression of Notch1, Notch3, Notch4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of model groups were significantly higher than that in health controls, and the difference were statistically significant (P < 0.01). But comparing control, expression of Notch2 was lower and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION There were significant changes of Notch genes in mouse model of AR. This intimated that related genes of Notch signaling pathway may paly important roles in the development and progression of AR and provide ideas for in depth study of the pathogenesis of AR.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nasal Mucosa ; RNA, Messenger ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected 660 million people and resulted in 6.7 million deaths. At present, a variety of risk factors related to the severity of COVID-19 have been identified, but whether allergic rhinitis and asthma will affect SARS-CoV-2 infection remains controversial. In general, there is no sufficient evidence to support that allergic rhinitis or asthma is a risk factor for increasing the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection or aggravating the disease. Some studies even show that atopy may be a protective factor to alleviate SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is related to the decreased expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor required for SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells, in atopic individuals. This paper reviews the influence of the severity and treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma on SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to provide some references for establishing strategies for prevention, risk stratification and treatment of COVID-19.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2/metabolism* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism* ; Asthma/therapy* ; Rhinitis, Allergic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected 660 million people and resulted in 6.7 million deaths. At present, a variety of risk factors related to the severity of COVID-19 have been identified, but whether allergic rhinitis and asthma will affect SARS-CoV-2 infection remains controversial. In general, there is no sufficient evidence to support that allergic rhinitis or asthma is a risk factor for increasing the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection or aggravating the disease. Some studies even show that atopy may be a protective factor to alleviate SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is related to the decreased expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor required for SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells, in atopic individuals. This paper reviews the influence of the severity and treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma on SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to provide some references for establishing strategies for prevention, risk stratification and treatment of COVID-19.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2/metabolism* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism* ; Asthma/therapy* ; Rhinitis, Allergic