Localisation of heme oxygenase isoforms in allergic human nasal mucosa

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenously produced gas mediator produced by heme oxygenase (HO). Like nitric oxide (NO), CO is produced in the nasal mucosa. Given that induced NO synthase (iNOS) expression in nasal mucosa has been found to be up-regulated in allergic rhinitis, the current study investigated the expression of HO isoforms in allergic human nasal mucosa. Immunohistochemical staining for type 1 and 2 HO isoforms were carried out in nasal inferior turbinate mucosa from six patients with persistent allergic rhinitis, and compared with six control patients without nasal allergy. Focal and weak expression of HO-1 was observed in seromucous glands, with no difference between allergic and control specimens. Vascular endothelium, erythrocytes, smooth muscle and inflammatory cells (except macrophages) in the allergic group exhibited stronger HO-1 immunoreactivity compared to the control. Minimal expression was found in the respiratory epithelium in either group. Intravascular HO-1 expression was found in the allergic mucosa only. Intense HO-2 immunoreactivity was observed in the respiratory epithelium, vascular endothelium and seromucous glands in both allergic and control groups with no differences in intensity. In conclusion, unlike iNOS, HO-1 is minimally expressed in the nasal respiratory epithelium of either group. However, our findings suggest that it may be involved in the inflammatory process of allergic rhinitis at the submucosal level.     

Insulinlike growth factor I immunoreactivity in nasal polyps

Nasal polyps from 15 patients were all found to express increased insulinlike growth factor I immunoreactivity. A hypothesis for the formation of nasal polyps is described: macrophages, seen in allergic and infectious reactions, produce and release growth factors, tentatively including insulinlike growth factor I. In enclosed paranasal sinuses this results in an accumulation of insulinlike growth factor I stimulating the growth of both epithelium and blood vessels in the sinuses. The mucosa increasingly bulges out through the ostium after having filled out the sinusity. Continuing growth stimulation is supplied by the inflammatory reaction, endothelial cells in the polyp, and activated macrophages inside or outside the polyp.     

The concentration and expression of IL-5 in human nasal polyp tissue]

OBJECTIVE: To study the concentration and expression of IL-5 in nasal polyp tissues and explore its significance in the micro-environment differentiation of eosinophils accumulation and clarify the conception of nasal polyposis. METHODS: The concentration and expression of IL-5 in nasal polyp tissues of 40 patients were determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, and inferior turbinate mucosa from patients with nasal polyps and healthy volunteers was used as control. RESULTS: 1. IL-5 concentration in the polyp tissues was significantly higher than that in inferion turbinate mucosa(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in inferion turbinate mucosa between the patients with nasal polyps and healthy volunteers (P > 0.05). IL-5 concentration in polyp tissues was markedly higher in patients with extensive polypoid change of nasal mucosa, history of previous polypectomy and allergic rhinitis compared with those without these features (P < 0.05). IL-5 concentration had no correlation with age and sex (P > 0.05). 2. 80.1% of the eosinophils were positive for IL-5 and 90.9% of IL-5 positive cells were eosinophils. Only 3.7% of the lymphocytes and neutrophils were IL-5 positive, and IL-5 was not detectable in epithelial cells. IL-5 expression in eosinophils of polyp tissues was remarkably stronger than that of the turbinate mucosa (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in inferion turbinate mucosa between the patients with nasal polyps and healthy volunteers (P > 0.05). IL-5 expression of eosinophils in polyp tissues was significantly stronger in patients with extensive polypoid change of nasal mucosa, history of previous polypectomy and allergic rhinitis compared with those without these features (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-5 expression in lymphocytes and neutrophils between polyp tissues and inferior turbinate nasal mucosa (both P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-5 is a key protein in eosinophilic pathologic mechanisms in nasal polyp tissues.     

STAT6在鼻息肉组织中的表达及其与嗜酸粒细胞浸润的关系

目的：研究信号转导和转录激活因子6（STAT6）在鼻息肉组织中的表达及其对嗜酸粒细胞（EOS）浸润聚集的作用,探讨其在鼻息肉发生中的可能作用。方法：选取符合纳入标准的鼻息肉患者手术切除标本（鼻息肉组）30例和同期单纯行鼻中隔偏曲矫正术中切除的下鼻甲组织（对照组）10例。采用免疫组织化学SP法检测2组下鼻甲黏膜中STAT6的表达。应用SPSS13.0软件进行统计学分析。结果：STAT6和EOS在鼻息肉组织中的表达明显高于下鼻甲,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。STAT6阳性细胞主要集中于鼻息肉的上皮细胞、腺体细胞和组织中浸润的炎性细胞的细胞质中。鼻息肉组中STAT6的表达与EOS浸润程度一致（P〈0.01）。结论：STAT6在鼻息肉组织中的高表达及其对EOS浸润聚集的作用,可能与鼻息肉的发生和发展关系密切。     

Role of mast and goblet cells in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps

In this study, the role of mast and goblet cells and eosinophils in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis was investigated. The study group consisted of 28 adult patients (15 males, 13 females) with nasal polyposis who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). All patients in the study group were examined with a questionnaire, an otolaryngologic examination, an endoscopic examination with 0 degrees and 30 degrees endoscopes, Waters' graphy, and axial and coronal computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses. The control group consisted of 10 adult patients without nasal polyp (7 males and 3 females) who underwent septoplasty. They gave written approval to enter the study. The polyp specimens from the study group were excised from four regions: the maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, sphenoid sinus, and nasal cavity. They were examined at x400 magnification by light microscopy, and only the slides with polypoid tissue were included in the study. Slides including a chronic inflammatory process without polypoid tissue were excluded from the study. The control group was composed of the slides of specimens from the inferior turbinate. Forty slides (10 in each group) in the study group and 10 slides in the control group were included in the study. The surgical specimens from the study and control groups were examined with a histochemical staining technique. In every surgical specimen, the type of epithelium and the numbers of goblet and mast cells and eosinophils were calculated in x400 high-magnification field in 10 areas on light microscopy, as well as the mean number of these cells, and for mast cells separately, cell count in the epithelium and the stromal layer of polyp tissue and total mast cell count, including both epithelial and stromal mast cells, were identified. Goblet cells, mast cells, and inflammation with eosinophils were observed in all sinonasal mucosa. The common epithelial type in the polyp tissue was pseudostratified ciliated cylindric epithelium, which contains goblet cells. Goblet cell numbers in the maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses and nasal cavity were found to be significantly higher than in the control group (p < .05). For total mast cell and eosinophil count, no statistically significant difference was found between all five groups. In each group, there was no statistically significant difference between goblet and mast cells. Increased goblet cells in sinonasal polyps indicated that systemic factors also affect nasal polyposis as much as local factors, such as airflow and mucosal contact. Surgical treatment of sinonasal polyps by FESS causes more sufficient air ventilation in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Therefore, the goblet cell density will decrease because of the exposure of the mucosal surfaces to the air. In particular, FESS and then the appropriate medical treatment may decrease the recurrence rates and increase the patient's comfort. The significantly increased goblet cell count in the sinonasal mucosa demonstrated the importance of these cells in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. Also, mast cells and eosinophils may have a role in the inflammatory processes, leading to nasal polyposis formation.     

Nachweis von Stickstoffmonoxidsynthasen bei physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Prozessen in der Nasenschleimhaut

Nitric oxide (NO) can play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone and neurotransmission, as well as in non-specific immunoreactions and inflammation in a variety of tissues. Increased quantities of nitric oxide in respired air can be measured during inflammatory processes. However, the exact role and precise sources of NO under physiological and pathophysiological conditions within the airways remain to be defined. Three isoforms of NO-synthases can be distinguished: two constitutive (neuronal and endothelial) Ca²⁺-dependent cNOS and one inducible Ca²⁺-independent iNOS (NOS II). Constitutive NOS (NOS I and III) release a basal amount of NO under physiological conditions. The inducible form once expressed can catalyse the generation of large quantities of NO. Many kinds of cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, endothelium and smooth muscle cells, are capable of expressing NOS II. Since all isoforms of NO-synthase seem to be present in nasal tissues and the expression of iNOS under inflammatory conditions seems to be responsible for excessive production of NO, the distribution of NOS-isoforms (especially NOS II) in normal and inflammatory nasal tissue, as well as the exact requirements for expression of iNOS remain to be proven. Non-inflamed fresh human nasal mucosa from the middle turbinate was compared immuno-histologically with nasal mucosa having the typical findings of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis (i.e., polypoid middle turbinates and polyps of the middle nasal duct). In order to gain more information about the mechanisms of acute inflammation, non-inflamed vital turbinates were incubated in vitro with the proinflammatory substances bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and tumor necrosis-factor (TNF) for 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min. Subsequent to exposure to NADPH- diaphorase and immunostaining with specific antibodies to each NOS-isoform, clearly increased or initiated expressions of inducible NOS (iNOS) in blood vessels, glands, macrophages and epithelium of chronically inflamed and LPS-incubated nasal tissue became apparent in comparison to the non-inflamed controls. In contrast, NOS III/NOS I seemed to be not affected. The onset of immunohistochemically recognizable NOS II expression was observed after 90 min incubation with of LPS/TNF-α. Polypoid tissue showed a strong increase in submucosal thickness and a high infiltration of iNOS-positive leukocytes (granulocytes and macrophages) compared to the LPS-incubated non-inflamed specimens. These findings implicate NOS II generated nitric oxide as a key agent for causing swelling, secretion and obstruction in patients with acute and chronic polypoid or allergic rhinitis. These findings also suggest that molecular NO has to be considered in the pathophysiology of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis.      

Significance and expression of transforming growth factor beta in human nasal polyp tissue]

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis and the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in human inflammatory nasal polyps. METHODS: TGF-beta 1-3 in nasal polyp tissues and inferior turbinate mucosa of twenty-five polyposis patients were detected with immunohistochemistry alkaline phosphatase and anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method. The inferior turbinate mucosa of eight healthy volunteers were selected as control. Six polyp tissues were estimated with double immunolabeling and Western-blot analysis to compare the characterization of the TGF-beta isoforms expression and the proportion of macrophages and eosinophils in nasal polyp tissues. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta 1-3 in nasal polyps was significantly higher than that in nasal mucosa and indetecable in nasal mucosa from healthy volunteers; TGF-beta 1 was the main isoform detected in nasal polyps; TGF-beta positively was accompanied by numerous macrophage and eosinophil infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-beta mainly TGF-beta 1 is strongly expressed in nasal polyps and its mucosa, where it could be produced by macrophages and eosinophils. TGF-beta could induce modification of epithelium and connective tissue and therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.     

鼻声反射在OSAS患者鼻功能评估中的应用

目的：探讨修正性鼻内镜手术联合中鼻甲切除术综合治疗难治性鼻-鼻窦炎的手术效果及应用价值。方法35例难治性鼻-鼻窦炎经CT检查、鼻内窥镜检查、局部用药等规范术前准备,行改良鼻丘径路额窦开放为主修正手术加中鼻甲全部或部分切除,术后凭鼻内镜保健手册进行定期复查,规范随访。26例合并鼻中隔偏曲者其中16例行内镜下传统矫正切除,10例行局限性矫正切除;15例合并变应性鼻炎者对下鼻甲前端、中鼻甲对应鼻中隔等部位黏膜电凝。结果35例患者门诊内镜随诊3-6月以上,治愈11例（31.4%）,黏膜完全上皮化;好转18例（51.4%）,黏膜可以上皮化,但变应性鼻炎发作时,术腔黏膜水肿,经局部处理及药物治疗后可恢复上皮化;无效6例（17.2%）。总有效率82.8%,6例无效均为合并变应性鼻炎及哮喘患者。结论修正性鼻内镜手术联合中鼻甲切除术综合治疗难治性鼻-鼻窦炎,疗效较为确切,值得临床推广。     

普仑司特对实验性变应性鼻炎鼻黏膜组织重塑的影响

目的观察半胱氨酸白三烯受体拮抗剂——普仑司特(pranlukast)对变应性鼻炎动物模型鼻黏膜组织重塑的影响。方法Hartley豚鼠14只,随机分为3组,即阴性对照组、卵清蛋白(ovalbumin,OVA)组和OVA+普仑司特组。OVA组:致敏的豚鼠经鼻长期OVA激发共12周;OVA +普仑司特组:致敏的豚鼠经鼻抗原激发1周后,抗原激发的同时给予普仑司特腹腔注射11周;阴性对照组仅给予生理盐水腹腔注射。标本石蜡包埋,做苏木素-伊红、阿辛蓝-过碘酸-希夫(alcian blue- periodic acid-Schiff,AB-PAS)和Masson三色胶原(Masson Trichrome,MT)染色,计数鼻中隔黏膜中的嗜酸粒细胞、上皮杯状细胞数量,半定量测量上皮细胞损伤及鼻中隔黏膜和鼻甲基底膜区及上皮下胶原含量,测定数值以x±s表示。结果与阴性对照相比,OVA组发生鼻中隔黏膜嗜酸粒细胞浸润[400倍镜下细胞数,(106．90±13．66)个／镜下]、上皮细胞损伤(完整上皮占47．25％±7．67％)、杯状细胞化生[每毫米基底膜对应上皮细胞中杯状细胞数,(22．05±5．81)个／mm]和鼻中隔黏膜及鼻甲内细胞外基质沉积明显增多;OVA+普仑司特组未见明显鼻中隔黏膜嗜酸粒细胞浸润[(8．95±2．32)个／镜下]、上皮细胞损伤(完整上皮占83．15％±8．05％),杯状细胞化生[(5．73±1．07)个／mm]以及鼻中隔黏膜及鼻甲内细胞外基质沉积。OVA+普仑司特组与阴性对照组差异无统计学意义。结论普仑司特能够阻止长期抗原激发导致的鼻黏膜组织重塑的发生,早期应用普仑司特对变应性鼻炎的治疗具有一定意义。     

Pathophysiological condition of the nose of asthmatic children with subclinical nasal allergy

Nasal mucociliary transport time, nasal hypersensitivity to histamine, the number of basophils and eosinophils in the superficial mucous layer of the inferior turbinate, and the amount of histamine in the nasal secretion were measured in the asthmatic children with subclinical nasal allergy (asthma group). These results were compared with those in nasal allergic patients with nasal symptoms (nasal allergy group). Saccharin time did not show any significant difference between the asthma and nasal allergy group. The threshold for nasal hypersensitivity to histamine was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the nasal allergy group. Accumulation of basophils and eosinophils in the superficial mucous layer of the inferior turbinate were observed in both groups. There was a statistical correlation between the number of basophils and the number of eosinophils in the superficial nasal mucosa in the nasal allergy group, but not in the asthma group. These data suggest that basophilic cell function in the superficial mucous layer in the nose is of greater significance in the development of nasal symptoms in response to nasal allergy than either mucociliary activity or nasal mucosal hypersensitivity to histamine.     

鼻息肉组织中IL-4 IL-5 IL-6和IL-8的含量及其表达

目的：通过检测鼻息肉组织中IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-8的水平及表达方式,探讨细胞因子在鼻息肉形成中的作用。方法：应用放射免疫法检测54例鼻息肉组织（鼻息肉组）中IL-4、IL-5、IL-6及IL-8的浓度,同时用免疫组织化学法观察其表达,以22例行鼻中隔手术患者中鼻甲黏膜作为对照（对照组）。结果：鼻息肉组IL-5及IL-8水平均明显高于对照组（均P〈0．01）;而IL-6在两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;IL-4在变应原皮试阳性组明显增加,与对照组比较P〈0．05。IL-4主要表达于息肉组织内炎性细胞,多为淋巴细胞或浆细胞;IL-5主要表达于鼻息肉组织中嗜酸粒细胞和淋巴细胞;IL-6、IL-8主要表达于息肉上皮层及息肉组织中的炎性细胞,皮试阳性组和阴性组间无明显区别。结论：IL-5及IL-8在所有鼻息肉组织中具有一定作用,而IL-4仅在变应原皮试阳性息肉中具有一定意义,IL-6在鼻息肉组织中无明显作用。     

Mucosal changes in rhinitis medicamentosa

To evaluate the nasal mucosal changes in rhinitis medicamentosa (RM), especially those related to goblet cells and subepithelial glands, we studied specimens of the inferior turbinate mucosa from 8 patients with RM, 8 patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis (CHR), and 5 patients with normal nasal mucosa. All specimens were assessed by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical study. Under a scanning electron microscope, hyperplasia of goblet cells was most prominent in the RM group, and an increased number of gland openings was evident in the RM and CHR groups. In addition, the immunoreactivity of epidermal growth factor receptor staining was strongest in the hyperplastic epithelium of the RM group. According to our results, it is feasible that the mucosa of patients with RM is in a chronic inflammatory, hypersecretory state. Degenerative changes in the secretory elements may cause impairment of mucociliary transport and may be responsible for the nasal obstruction and posterior nasal drip in RM.     

Nasal lavage cytology and mucosal histopathological alterations in patients with rhinitis

IntroductionThe extent of epithelial lesion in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis and its association with inflammatory changes in nasal lavage has not been clarified.ObjectiveTo verify the association between the inflammatory cells in the nasal lavage, epithelial lesion extent and basement membrane thickness, in the nasal mucosa of patients with rhinitis; to determine the cutoff point of the percentage of eosinophils in the nasal lavage associated with the atopic patients.MethodsPatients with rhinitis and indication for septoplasty and (or) turbinectomy for turbinate hypertrophy were selected, and were submitted to allergy skin tests, nasal lavage with measurement of albumin and interleukin-8 levels, total and differential counting of cells, and mucosal histopathological analysis to determine the extent of epithelial lesion, and degree of basement membrane thickening.ResultsFifty-six patients with a median age of 24.5 years and a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (n = 36) and non-allergic rhinitis (n = 20) were studied. In atopic subjects, allergy skin tests were positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in 35 (97.0%) and Lolium perenne in 18 (50.0%). Atopic subjects showed a higher clinical score index of rhinitis compared to non-atopic ones. The total count of cells, neutrophils, and levels of albumin and IL-8 were not different in the nasal lavage of atopic and non-atopic subjects. The cutoff point for eosinophil count in nasal fluid for the distinction between allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis was 4%. Some degree of epithelial lesion was more frequent in allergic rhinitis (94%) than in non-allergic rhinitis (65%) patients. In the presence of basement membrane thickness, as a marker of remodeling, there was no difference in the nasal lavage of patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis.ConclusionIn this series, 4% was the cutoff point for the number of eosinophils in the nasal lavage, for atopy differentiation. Upper airway remodeling accessed by basement membrane thickness showed similar inflammatory cell infiltrate in the nasal lavage, regardless of the presence of atopy.     

Inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and nasal polyps

OBJECTIVE: Since some controversy exists concerning the frequency of inflammatory cells in nasal polyps, we have compared the frequency of tissue inflammatory cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and plasma cells) including 11 kinds of lymphocyte subsets in the same specimens of nasal mucosa and nasal polyps. METHODS: Histopathological observations and flow cytometric analyses were performed on eight mucosal specimens of the inferior turbinates of patients with nasal polyps and on 13 polyp specimens. RESULTS: Nasal polyps contained significantly more eosinophils, neutrophils and plasma cells than nasal mucosa, and EG2+ cells (activated eosinophils) were significantly more frequent in nasal polyps than in nasal mucosa. Flow cytometric analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets (CD1+, CD2+, CD3+, CD5+, CD7+, CD4+, CD8+, CD10+, CD19+, CD20+ and HLA-DR+ cells) including CD4/8 ratios between nasal mucosa and polyps, though, both nasal mucosa and polyps contained significantly more lymphocytes than eosinophils, neutrophils or plasma cells. The T cell lineage (CD2+, CD3+, CD5+ and CD7+ cells) was found in high frequency and B cell lineage (CD10+, CD19+ and CD20+ cells) in low frequency in both nasal mucosa and polyps. The frequency of HLA-DR+ cells (most of which were activated T cells) was not significantly different between nasal mucosa and nasal polyps. CONCLUSION: Histopathological and flow cytometric analyses were performed on the composition of inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa of the inferior turbinates and in polyps from the same patients. The elevated numbers of activated eosinophils, neutrophils and plasma cells in nasal polyps compared with nasal mucosa suggest that inflammatory processes play important roles in the pathophysiology of nasal polyps. The frequencies of lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets were not significantly different between these two tissues.     

豚鼠变应性鼻炎模型鼻黏膜的病理改变

目的：观察变应性鼻炎鼻黏膜的病理变化。方法：用橄榄油将甲苯-2,4-二异氰酸酯配成浓度为10%的溶液作为致敏剂,滴鼻,建立豚鼠变应性鼻炎动物模型8例。8例正常豚鼠作对照。致敏结束、模型成功后,取两组鼻黏膜组织,光镜下观察病理变化。结果：模型组鼻黏膜上皮脱落,杯状细胞增生,鳞状上皮组织转化,上皮坏死,固有层和黏膜下层腺体增生,血管扩张,组织水肿,并见特征性的嗜酸性粒细胞、肥大细胞浸润,这种病理改变与变应性鼻炎的临床表现大致吻合。对照组鼻黏膜上皮层为假复层纤毛柱状上皮,连续、完整、清晰,可见正常的黏膜上皮层、固有层和黏膜下层。结论：变应性鼻炎鼻黏膜出现特征性的炎症病理改变。     

Measurement of water loss in human nasal mucosa

BACKGROUND: Regulation of the barrier function in the nasal epithelium seems to be affected by the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. The measurement of transepidermal water loss has proven to be an important noninvasive method for assessing the efficiency of the skin as a protective barrier. Although the nasal mucosal epithelium also has such a protective function, the precise mechanism still is unknown. METHODS: We studied the alteration of nasal mucosal water loss in the basal state and after the nontraumatic applications of physiological saline, hypertonic saline (10% NaCl), nasal barrier cream, and 10% glycerol on the mucosal surface of the inferior turbinate. RESULTS: We observed that nasal mucosal water loss was increased by hypertonic saline and decreased by nasal cream and glycerol. CONCLUSION: For the first time, we showed the human nasal mucosal water loss both in the basal state and after topical application of various substances.     

血小板活化因子在变应性鼻炎中的作用及其研究进展

目的血小板活化因子(PAF)是一种强活性的内源性磷脂介质,主要由中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞、肥大细胞、内皮细胞和巨噬细胞等多种免疫细胞受到炎症刺激后释放,在多种炎症性疾病中起着至关重要的作用。近些年在变应性鼻炎（AR）的发病机制研究中发现，PAF作为潜在的相关炎症介质，可以通过影响炎性细胞的趋化作用，改变鼻腔黏膜血管通透性及气道反应性并影响腺体的分泌，从而对AR一些症状的产生起着较关键的作用。目前国际上已有多项临床研究证明，使用PAF抑制剂是干预AR症状的一个有效方法，但是国内关于PAF抑制剂在AR中的应用研究相对甚少。本文就近年来血PAF在AR发病机制中的作用及相关研究进行综述。     

变应性鼻炎鼻黏膜组织重塑的研究

目的:探讨变应性鼻炎(AR)鼻黏膜组织是否存在重塑,检测与组织重塑密切相关的转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)、基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)及其组织抑制物1(TIMP-1)在AR患者鼻黏膜组织中的表达情况。方法:15例单纯性鼻中隔偏曲患者为对照组,16例鼻中隔偏曲伴轻度间歇性AR的患者为轻度AR组,12例鼻中隔偏曲伴重度持续性AR的患者为重度AR组。均取中鼻甲黏膜组织,苏木精-伊红染色观察嗜酸粒细胞浸润情况并测定上皮损伤情况;AB-PAS法计数杯状细胞数,MT法测定细胞外基质沉积面积百分比,ELISA测定组织中TGF-β1、MMP-9及TIMP-1的表达。结果:①对照组无明显嗜酸粒细胞浸润,轻度、重度AR组嗜酸粒细胞浸润均较对照组明显增多(均P<0.05);②轻度AR组中仅上皮细胞损伤1级比对照组明显(P<0.05),重度AR组上皮损伤1、2、3级均比对照组明显(均P<0.05);③轻度、重度AR组杯状细胞数明显多于对照组(均P<0.05);④与对照组相比,轻度AR组胶原沉积面积增多,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);重度AR组胶原沉积面积比对照组明显增多(P<0.05);⑤TGF-β1、MMP-9及TIMP-1在轻度、重度AR组黏膜中的表达均较对照组增高(均P<0.05);重度AR组TGF-β1和TIMP-1的表达均比轻度AR组增高(均P<0.05)。结论:AR的鼻黏膜组织发生了重塑,表现为上皮细胞损伤、杯状细胞化生、细胞外基质沉积,重度AR患者的鼻黏膜重塑更强、更广泛,TGF-β1、MMP-9、TIMP-1积极参与了AR鼻黏膜组织的重塑。