[The expression of IL-23 in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis patients and its significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-23 in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis patients and its significance. METHOD: mRNA and protein expression of IL-23 in inferior turbinate mucosa from 12 allergic rhinitis patients and 11 control patients was measured by means of real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULT: IL-23p19 mRNA relative expression level in nasal mucosa was significantly increased in allergic rhinitis patients compared with normal controls (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that IL-23 protein was mainly expressed by infiltrating inflammatory cells in lamina propria and there was increased number of IL-23 positive cells in allergic rhinitis patients in comparison with normal controls. Correlation analysis showed that the mRNA and protein expression level of IL-23 was significantly positively correlated with the number of the inflammatory cells (r = 0.678 and 0.644, respectively; both P < 0.01) and the degree of subepithelial collagen deposition (r = 0.834 and 0.721, respectively; both P < 0.01). IL-23p19 mRNA relative expression level in nasal mucosa was significantly decreased in allergic rhinitis patients who used glucocorticoids compared with controls (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IL-23 may contribute to the chronic inflammation and airway remodelling in allergic rhinitis.