Study On The Effects Of Claudin-1and Occludin In Pathogenesis Of Allergic Rhinitis

Objective:To investigate significance of Claudin-1and Occludinexpression and the role in the pathogenesis in hunman allergic rhinitis(AR).Methods: According to allergic rhinitis patients selected standardpublished in Wuyishan meeting in2009，32cases with allergic rhinitis asexperimental group were collected with22cases of deflection of nasalseptum(DNS) as control group except the ones with allergic inflammatorydiseases． Before suigery,Serum samples were collected.Inter leukin(IL)-4,interferon(IFN)-γ and immunoglobulin(Ig)E levels in the serum wereexamined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Specimens ofinferior turbinate was fixed by4%formaldehyde,the number of Eosinophils(Eos) were measured in the specimens by HE staining.The expressionof Claudin-1and Occludin was detected by immunohistochemical staining.theresults were compared by the two groups. Take Correlation analysis serum IL-4, IFN-γ, lgE and Eos content in nasal mucosa and the expression intensityof Claudin-1, Occludin in nasal mucosa.Results:1、The contents of IL-4and lgE in AR group (53.65±20.63ng/L，133.85±37.95IU.ml-1) were significantly higher than DNS group(15.65±9.50ng/L，17.35±5.49IU.ml-1),there were statistically significantdifference between AR and DNS group(p<0.05).IFN-γ levels in AR group(19.38±11.28ng/L) were significantly lower than the DNS group (180.26±65.10ng/L),there were also statistically significant difference between AR and DNS group(p<0.05).2、Eos counts in the specimens(high power lens,×400) in AR group（11.52±3.60） were significantly higher than the nasal DNS group（1.68±1.36）, there were statistically significant difference between AR andDNS group(p<0.05).3、 The positive findings of Claudin-1and Occludin byimmunohistochemical analysis under micoscpe(high power lens,×400) intwo groups were found in the cytoplasm of the mucosal epithelial cells andglandular cells （brownish yellow,fine granular）. The positive rate ofClaudin-1and Occludin in AR group(25.00%，31.25%) were significantlylower than the DNS group(81.82%，72.73%), there were statisticallysignificant difference between AR and DNS group(p<0.05).4、Correlation analysia:The positive rate of Claudin-1and Occludin werenegative correlation with the Eos count in nasal mucosa（r=-0.865，p<0.05；r=-0.757，p<0.05）,and the IL-4levels（r=-0.732，p<0.05；r=0.783，p<0.05）,but positive correlation with IFN-γ levels（r=0.872，p<0.05；r=0.748，p<0.05）.Conclusion:The tight junction protein Claudin-1and Occludin wereexpression in the cytoplasm of the mucosal epithelial cells and glandularcells.Expression downregulation in the protein levels of Claudin-1andOccludin in nasal muscosa maybe play a key role in the pathogenesis inhunman allergic rhinitis.