Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., Vol 14, No. 3, 03 1996, 248-253.
Co-expression of endothelin-1 and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 in patients with chronic rhinitis
K Furukawa, D Saleh, F Bayan, N Emoto, S Kaw, M Yanagisawa and A Giaid
Department of Pathology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Several studies have suggested an important role for endothelin in the
pathophysiology of the upper and lower respiratory tract. In the present
study, we have investigated the localization of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and
endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) messenger RNAs(mRNAs) and
immunoreactivities in the human nasal mucosa by immunohistochemistry and in
situ hybridization. Inferior turbinates were obtained from 32 patients at
surgery. Histopathologic examination of nasal biopsy specimens revealed
that 17 patients had chronic inflammation and 15 patients had normal
mucosa. Immunostaining for ET-1 and ECE-1 was seen in the surface
epithelium, endothelial cells, submucosal glands, and infrequently in
vascular smooth muscle cells, in all subjects. There was significantly more
staining for ET-1 and ECE-1 in nasal glands and inflammatory cells in
patients with chronic inflammation than in those with normal nasal mucosa.
In patients with chronic inflammation, strong immunoreactivity for ECE-1
was seen over inflammatory cells. In situ hybridization showed abundant
expression of ET-1 and ECE-1 mRNAs over the surface epithelium, glands,
vessels, and inflammatory cells. Both immunohistochemistry and in situ
hybridization demostrated the expression of ET-1 and ECE-1
immunoreactivities and mRNAs in similar sites, and also independently. The
present findings demonstrate the co-expression of ET-1 and its converting
enzyme in the human nasal mucosa and suggest a possible role for the
endothelin system in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinitis.
