Local Expression of Mucosal YKL-40; Correlation of YKL-40 with Clinical Manifestations and Immunopathogenesis of Moderate/Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis Patients.

YKL-40 is an important protein that plays a critical role in chronic inflammation in hypersensitivity disease. In this study, the expression of YKL-40 was investigated among patients with moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis (M/S PAR), patients with mild (M) PAR and healthy individuals. Moreover, the association between YKL-40 and immunopathogenesis of M/S PAR was meticulously surveyed. For this purpose, surgical samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction to evaluate YKL-40 mRNA expression. The presence and location of YKL-40 protein in the tissue samples were determined by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we measured the number of eosinophils per field in the tissue samples, blood eosinophils, total serum IgE, specific serum IgE, total nasal syndrome score (TNSS) and YKL-40 serum levels. The data indicated that production of YKL-40 in patients with M/S PAR increased significantly when compared with the control group. Furthermore, local production of YKL-40 correlated with specific IgE, nasal eosinophil count and TNSS. The results of the present study indicate that YKL-40, for its correlation with allergic clinical manifestations and symptom severity in M/S PAR patients, should be considered as a trigger factor in AR.

The relationship between IL-17A and IL-22 expression and clinical severity in patients with moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: Several reactions leading to numerous effects are regulated by IL-22. However, the relationship between IL-22 and immunopathogensis of allergic rhinitis (AR) has been rarely investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of IL-22 and IL-17A in AR patients and their association with clinical severity of persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty mild persistent allergic rhinitis (M PAR) patients, thirty moderate/severe persistent allergic rhinitis (M/S PAR) patients, and thirty healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Local production of IL-22 and IL-17A in PAR patients and healthy controls' nasal mucosa was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Serum levels of IL-22, IL-17A, specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), and total IgE (tIgE) in PAR patients and healthy controls were determined by ELISA. In addition, blood eosinophil, nasal eosinophils per field, and total nasal syndrome score (TNSS) were also assessed. RESULTS: In comparison with healthy controls, production of IL-22 and IL-17A in M/S PAR patients increased significantly. Furthermore, serum levels as well as the mean number of IL-22+ and IL-17A+ cells in nasal mucosa correlated with sIgE, nasal eosinophil count, and TNSS. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study provide the first evidence that local production of IL-22 might be expressed in PAR patients. The expression of IL-22 and IL-17A, and their correlations with clinical parameters in PAR patients suggest the role of these cytokines in the events involved in the development of PAR.

Study of Linc00574 Regulatory Effect on the TCTE3 Expression in Sperm Motility.

We investigated the relationship of t-complex-associated-testis-expressed 3 (TCTE3) and linc00574 expression levels with sperm motility and morphology in patients with asthenozoospermia (AZ) and terato-asthenozoospermia (TAZ). The study population consisted of 31 AZ patients, 31 TAZ patients, and 32 normozoospermia (NZ) as controls. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to evaluate the expression levels of TCTE3 and linc00574. Bioinformatics investigations were performed using databases to find molecular pathway. TCTE3 expression was reduced significantly in AZ and TAZ patients (P < 0.05). Linc00574 expression level increased only in the AZ patients (P < 0.05). The subsequent analyses showed a significantly positive correlation between TCTE3 and linc00574 expression levels (P < 0.05). In addition, a significantly positive relationship was observed between TCTE3 expression level and sperm motility and morphology (P < 0.05). The present study suggests that TCTE3 expression is regulated by linc00574 through a negative self-regulating mechanism and therefore may affect the flagella structure and function.

Differential Expression of Fas in Moderate/Severe and Mild Persistent Allergic Rhinitis and Its Correlation With Pathological Parameters.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The roles of Fas in immune system are multifaceted, and the interaction between Fas receptor and Fas ligand is essential for maintaining the immune tolerance. We aimed to assess the level of the expression of Fas receptor on nasal inferior turbinate mucosa in patients with mild persistent allergic rhinitis (M PAR) and moderate to severe (M/S) PAR and determined the relationship between disease severity and production of Fas. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with M/S PAR, 70 patients with M PAR, and 70 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. We obtained biopsies of nasal inferior turbinate mucosa from the participants. The expression of Fas mRNA was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The presence and location of Fas were determined by immunohistochemistry. The number of eosinophils per field, blood eosinophils, total serum IgE levels, and specific serum IgE levels were measured. Clinical manifestations of patients were assessed by Total Nasal Syndrome Score (TNSS). RESULTS: The expression of Fas in patients with M/S PAR was decreased significantly compared to the control group and patients with M PAR. Local mucosal expression of Fas was correlated with specific IgE, nasal eosinophil count, and TNSS. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, there might be a relationship between the expression of Fas receptor on nasal turbinate mucosa and the severity of persistent allergic rhinitis.