Expression of uteroglobin in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

We observed for the first time the expression of Uteroglobin (UGB) in the nasal mucosa of mice. The results of our study suggest that UGB may play an important role in the regulation of inflammation in allergic rhinitis (AR) as well as in the lower airway allergic inflammations.

Uteroglobin is a protein secreted by epithelial lining of organs communicating with the external environment. Reports of its immunomodulatory effects in allergic disease have been made, but the true physiological role still remains to be elucidated. In this study we tried to observe the expression of UGB in the nasal mucosa of mice and determine its role in AR.

Thirty BALB-c mice at 3 weeks of age (10 mice/group) were sensitized systemically by intraperitoneal ovalbumin injection and locally by ovalbumin inhalation. Control group were sensitized with PBS. Treatment group had intraperitoneal dexamethasone injection 1 hour before the initial sensitization while control and AR group were injected with PBS. Symptom scores, eosinophil counts, immunohistochemical staining as well as UGB mRNA expression in the nasal mucosa and lung tissue were analyzed.

The symptom scores and eosinophil counts between control and treatment group was significantly different from the AR group (P<0.01). On immunohistochemical staining, UGB was localized in the epithelium and submucosal gland of the nasal mucosa as well as in the epithelium of respiratory bronchioles. UGB mRNA expression of the nasal mucosa and lung tissue was decreased in the AR group compared to the control group (P=0.022). In the treatment group UGB expression was increased compared to the AR group (P=0.016). The results of IHC and mRNA expression in the lung tissue correlated with the results in the nasal mucosa.