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Differential expression of surfactant protein A in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergy symptoms.

OBJECTIVE
To characterize surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in human nasal tissue and correlate differential expression of SP-A with symptoms suggestive of allergic rhinitis.


DESIGN
Allergic rhinitis symptom data were prospectively collected in the form of the Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index, the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a Visual Analog Scale. Immunohistochemical staining for SP-A was performed on resected nasal tissue. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification of the SP-A gene referenced to beta-actin was performed on complementary DNA samples synthesized from total RNA isolates.


SETTING
Academic tertiary referral center, department of otolaryngology laboratories.


PATIENTS
Twenty-five consecutive patients undergoing nasal surgery.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Immunohistochemical staining of SP-A in human nasal mucosa and submucosa, polymerase chain reaction amplification of SP-A messenger RNA, and rhinitis symptom scores.


RESULTS
Immunostaining localized SP-A to the mucosa and submucosal glands in specimens. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated correlation between SP-A messenger RNA concentration and the total Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index score (0.51, P = .009) as well as "sneezing over the previous week" (0.40, P = .049), "runny nose over the previous week" (0.55, P = .005), and "sneezing today" (0.47, P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first report of SP-A expression in human nasal tissue. Furthermore, the degree of expression correlated with severity of disease as measured by the Rhinitis Symptom Utility Index in patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms.