[Expression and DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB p50 in nasal mucosal tissue of seasonal allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and activation of p50 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-kappaB) in mucosa of seasonal allergic rhinitis. METHOD: The expression of p50 subunit of NF-kappaB in the mucosa from 16 patients (6 patients with symptom, 10 patients without symptom)and 10 normal subjects were detected by immunohistochemistry. The activation of DNA-binding proteins which was labeled with 32P-radiolabeled oligonucleotide probe for NF-kappaB was detected with electrophoretic mobility shift assays(EMSA) in mucosa. RESULT: The expression of p50 subunit of NF-kappaB was observed in the nasal mucosa of SAR and normal samples. The expression of p50 subunit of NF-kappaB was positive in the cytoplasm and some nuclei of the mucosal epithelia, inflammatory cells, glandular epithelia, and vascular endothelia in nasal mucosa. The Rate of nucleus positive staining of p50 was (41.83 +/- 4.43)% and(37.19 +/- 3.93)% in SAR with symptom and SAR without symptom patients,respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The Rate of nucleus positive staining of p50 in nasal mucosa of normal samples was (8.89 +/- 1.32)%. The difference of p50 subunit of NF-kappaB expression between SAR group and normal group was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The DNA-binding proteins activity of samples from patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis was stronger than that in normal subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: p50 subunit of NF-kappaB was activated in healthy nasal mucosa to some extent. The expression and DNA-binding proteins activity of p50 subunit of NF-kappaB was enhanced in seasonal allergic rhinitis. It indicated that p50 subunit of NF-kappaB may be involved in nasal mucosa physiological function and may have an important role in maintaining the chronic inflammation in seasonal allergic rhinitis.