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Updated: May 19, 2026
11:54
Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
Pollen starch granules in bronchial inflammation.
Philipp Badorrek1, Melanie Dick, Lorenz Emmert
1Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany. philipp.badorrek@item.fraunhofer.de
Summary
Pollen grains cause nasal symptoms, but not lower airway inflammation. Conversely, pollen starch granules trigger lower airway inflammation with minimal nasal symptoms, impacting allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Pollen grains (>10 μm) primarily affect upper airways.
- Lower airway inflammation link to pollen unclear, hypothesized via smaller starch granules.
- Investigating differential roles of pollen grains and starch granules in respiratory symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- Differentiate effects of pollen grains vs. starch granules on nasal symptoms.
- Assess impact on lower airway inflammation markers.
- Clarify mechanisms in allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Main Methods:
- 2-period crossover study with 30 allergic rhinitis/asthma patients.
- Environmental chamber challenges: pollen + starch vs. starch alone.
- Measured: Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), nasal secretions, flow, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO).
Main Results:
- Pollen grains significantly increased TNSS, nasal secretions, and decreased nasal flow.
- Starch granules alone had minimal nasal symptom effects.
- Starch granules significantly increased eNO, indicating lower airway inflammation; pollen did not.
Conclusions:
- Pollen grains induce nasal symptoms but not lower airway inflammation.
- Pollen starch granules trigger lower airway inflammation with few nasal symptoms.
- Findings differentiate roles in allergic respiratory conditions.
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