The urokinase system in patients with intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis

Local and systemic changes in hemostasis are associated with allergic diseases. Apart from their well documented role in regulation of plasminogen activation, components of the urokinase system may be involved in modulation of cellular activities during immune inflammatory responses. So far, little has been known about the function of the system in allergic inflammation. In the present study, we assessed circulating levels of the urokinase system components such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), soluble form of uPA receptor (CD87), and the inhibitor--plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. The study comprised of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, however, without any asthmatic symptoms. Plasma levels of uPA and soluble form of uPA receptor antigens, and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 activity were measured in 17 patients with grass pollens-induced intermittent allergic rhinitis and 15 patients with persistent allergic rhinitis due to house dust mite allergy, as well as in 20 sex-matched and age-matched healthy nonatopic participants. We did not observe any statistically significant differences in the levels of the urokinase system components between patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis and persistent allergic rhinitis, and the controls. The circulating levels of uPA, its soluble receptor, and its inhibitor did not differ between allergic rhinitis patients and healthy participants, therefore it seems that the systemic release and activity of the urokinase system molecules may be not significantly changed in the course of nasal allergic inflammation induced by periodic or continuous exposure to a natural allergen.