Hairdressers are frequently exposed to bleaching
powder containing persulfates, a group of compounds that may induce
hypersensitivity in the airways. The mechanism causing this reaction is not clear. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the nasal lavage fluid
proteome after challenge with
potassium persulfate in hairdressers with bleaching
powder-associated
rhinitis. Furthermore, we aimed to compare their response to that of hairdressers without nasal symptoms, and atopic subjects with pollen-associated nasal symptoms. To study the pathogenesis of persulfate-associated
rhinitis, the response in
protein expression from the upper airway was assessed by time-dependent proteomic expression analysis of nasal lavage fluids. Samples were prepared by pooling nasal lavage fluids from the groups at different time points after challenge. Samples were depleted of high-abundant
proteins, labeled with iTRAQ and analyzed by online 2D-nanoLC-MS/MS. Differences in the
protein pattern between the three groups were observed. Most
proteins with differentially expressed levels were involved in pathways of
lipid transportation and antimicrobial activities. The major finding was increased abundance of
apolipoprotein A-1, 20 min postchallenge, detected solely in the group of symptomatic hairdressers. Our results suggest there may be differences between the mechanisms responsible for the
rhinitis in the symptomatic and atopic group.