Tissue-Specific Effects of Allergic Rhinitis in Mouse Nasal Epithelia

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR) can cause significant olfactory loss, but few studies have specifically investigated AR effects on olfactory and nasal respiratory tissues per se. To address this, we used a murine AR protocol employing nasal allergen infusion for both sensitization and challenges. Seven- to 11-week BALB/c mice were bilaterally infused with 1% ovalbumin (OVA) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PBS alone for 6 or 11 weeks, given single bilateral PBS or OVA infusions 24 h before sacrifice, or left untreated. High OVA-specific IgE serum levels and eosinophil infiltration confirmed AR induction. Olfactory (OE) and respiratory (RE) epithelia showed distinctly different responses, most conspicuously, massive eosinophil infiltration of immediately RE-subjacent lamina propria. In OE, such infiltration was minimal. Significant RE hypertrophy and hyperplasia also occurred, although OE organization was generally maintained and extensive disruption localized despite a 20% reduction in sensory neurons and globose basal cells after 11 weeks OVA. Pronounced Bowman's gland hypertrophy crowded both OE and olfactory nerve bundles. Cellular proliferation was widely distributed in RE but in OE was localized to normally thinner OE and RE-proximal OE, suggesting possible indirect RE influences. Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase (TdT) nick end labeling was greater in OE than RE and, in contrast to other effects, occurred with acute infusions and chronic PBS alone, often unilaterally. Following chronic OVA, AR-related bilateral increases appeared superimposed on those. These findings indicate AR effects on olfactory function may be complex, reflecting various levels of RE/OE responses and interactions.

Role of the type I tumor necrosis factor receptor in inflammation‐associated olfactory dysfunction

“…Hussain et al 27 used different protocols and showed that, even with the one that was considered to be the best, OVA intraperitoneal sensitization followed by aerosol OVA challenge, all eosinophil infiltration was lined by respiratory epithelium, and virtually no eosinophils were seen in areas of OE. Carr et al, 28 with a protocol as long as 11 weeks, did not find eosinophils in OE-subjacent lamina propria. However, other changes, such as in the thickness of the OE and cellular hypertrophy, were detected uniformly throughout the nasal cavity.…”

“…They hypothesized that an immune protection from inflammation by the olfactory neuroepithelium explains the marked difference between respiratory and olfactory epithelial damage. 28 On the other hand, Ozaki et al 29 used a high concentration of OVA to challenge the mice, and showed infiltration of eosinophils, plasma cells, neutrophils, mast cells, and macrophages in olfactory mucosa, as well as an impaired olfactory function.…”

Effects of the Inhaled Treatment of Liriope Radix on an Asthmatic Mouse Model

“…When the mice were sacrificed, the blood serum was collected as described previously (Carr et al, 2012). The mouse serum was used to measure the OVA-specific IgE level with a Mouse OVA-IgE ELISA kit (Md Bioproducts, St. Paul, MN, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol (Carr et al, 2012).…”

“…The mouse serum was used to measure the OVA-specific IgE level with a Mouse OVA-IgE ELISA kit (Md Bioproducts, St. Paul, MN, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol (Carr et al, 2012).…”

Phenotypic Characteristics of Nasal Mast Cells in a Mouse Model of Allergic Rhinitis

“…In recent years, a few studies have reported that eosinophils infiltrate into the nasal olfactory mucosa (NOM) of AR patients and in mouse models, suggesting a direct and deleterious effect of AR on human and mouse NOM [4,5,6,7]. In addition to eosinophils, MCs and plasma cells have been observed in NOM of mouse models, giving rise to the hypothesis of allergic response in mouse NOM [5].…”