DNA microarray analysis of transforming growth factor-beta and related transcripts in nasal biopsies from patients with allergic rhinitis.

Abstract

Decreased activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines like transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta may contribute to allergic inflammation. In vivo effects of TGF-beta-effects are difficult to infer from local concentrations, since TGF-beta-effects depend on a complex system of regulatory proteins and receptors. Instead the effects of TGF-beta might be inferred by examining TGF-beta-inducible transcripts. In this study DNA microarrays were used to examine local expression of TGF-beta, TGF-beta-regulatory and -inducible transcripts in nasal biopsies from patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis and healthy controls. In addition, nasal fluids were analysed with cytological and immunological methods. Nasal fluid eosinophils, albumin, eosinophil granulae proteins and IgE, but not TGF-beta, were higher in patients than in controls. DNA microarray analysis of nasal mucosa showed expression of transcripts encoding TGF-beta, TGF-beta-regulatory proteins and -receptors at variable levels in patients and controls. By comparison, analysis of 28 TGF-beta-inducible transcripts indicated that 23 of these had lower measurement values in patients than in controls, while one was higher, and the remaining four were absent in both patients and controls. In summary, TGF-beta and a complex system of regulatory genes and receptors are expressed in the nasal mucosa. Low expression of TGF-beta-inducible transcripts may indicate decreased TGF-beta activity in allergic rhinitis. DNA microarray analysis may be a way to study cytokine effects in vivo.

• Authors: Mikael Benson, Björn Carlsson, Lena M S Carlsson, Petter Mostad, Per-Arne Svensson, Lars-Olaf Cardell
• Journal: Cytokine (Cytokine) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 20-5 (Apr 07 2002) ISSN: 1043-4666 [Print] England
• PMID: 12090756 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Oligonucleotides
• RNA, Complementary
• RNA, Messenger
• Transforming Growth Factor beta

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Biopsy
• Case-Control Studies
• Eosinophils (metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Inflammation
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Lavage Fluid
• Nasal Mucosa (metabolism)
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Oligonucleotides (metabolism)
• Pollen (metabolism)
• RNA, Complementary (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (metabolism)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis, genetics)