[The regulatory effect of the H2-Eb1 gene on allergic rhinitis under different altitude environmental exposures]

Objective To investigate the regulatory role of H2-Eb1 gene in allergic rhinitis (AR) under plateau environments and elucidate the differential effects of acute plateau exposure and long-term plateau adaptation on AR, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of AR in plateau regions. Methods The establishment of an AR model was conducted through ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneal injection and nasal drip methods. Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into the following groups: plain normal group, plain AR group, plateau normal group, plateau AR group, acute plateau exposure normal group, and acute plateau exposure AR group, with 10 mice in each group. The plain groups were maintained at an altitude of 1500 m, the plateau groups were housed in a hyperbaric chamber where an altitude of 7000 m was simulating, and the acute plateau exposure groups underwent sensitization treatment first and were then transferred to the hyperbaric chamber for 1 week. Rhinitis symptoms, nasal mucosa pathology, H2-Eb1 mRNA and protein expression in mice were observed and evaluated. Results Rhinitis symptoms were exhibited by all AR groups, with the most severe symptoms being observed in the acute plateau exposure AR group and the mildest symptoms being found in the long-term plateau AR group. Furthermore, decreased H2-Eb1 protein expression and improved inflammatory infiltration were observed in the plateau AR group, whereas the opposite pattern was exhibited by the acute plateau exposure AR group. Conclusion Acute plateau exposure is shown to upregulate H2-Eb1 protein expression, with the acute plateau response being thereby aggravated; in contrast, downregulation of the protein expression of this gene is achieved through long-term adaptation to plateau environments, suggesting that H2-Eb1 serves as a crucial regulatory target for modulating acute plateau response.