Mechanisms of mast cell migration into the allergic nasal epithelium.

变应性鼻炎(AR)患者鼻上皮肥大细胞增多。然而，确切的机制尚不清楚。干细胞因子被认为是肥大细胞重要的趋化因子。在这里，我们检测了SCF和其他趋化因子如RANTES、嗜酸性粒细胞趋化因子、IL-8在鼻上皮层和深层固有层中的水平。我们还检测了培养的鼻腔上皮细胞(CNEC)和成纤维细胞释放的水平。采用ELISA法检测AR患者鼻黏膜匀浆、扁平苔藓及CNEC和成纤维细胞培养上清中RANTES、Eoaxin和SCF的水平。趋化实验表明，上皮细胞中RANTES的表达水平高于LP，而嗜酸性粒细胞趋化因子和SCF的表达水平不高于LP。此外，CNEC产生更高水平的RANTES，而成纤维细胞产生更高水平的嗜酸性粒细胞趋化因子、SCF和IL-8。在1小时的时间点，RANTES诱导的肥大细胞的趋化作用比其他趋化因子和SCF更深。这些结果有力地表明RANTES是调节肥大细胞迁移到变态反应鼻黏膜上皮的关键因素。

Mast cells are increased in the nasal epithelium of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Yet, the precise mechanism is unclear. SCF is considered to be an important chemotactic factor for mast cells. Here we examined the levels of SCF, and other chemokines like RANTES, eotaxin, IL-8 in nasal epithelial layer and deep lamina propria. We also examined the levels released by cultured nasal epithelial cells (CNEC) and fibroblasts. We then analyzed the chemotactic activity of each of these chemokines for mast cells.By ELISA, we examined the levels of RANTES, eotaxin and SCF in homogenized nasal scrapings and LP of AR patients as well as CNEC and fibroblast culture supernatants. We studied the chemotactic activity by chemotaxis assay.The levels of RANTES, but not Eotaxin and SCF was greater in the epithelium than in the LP. Moreover CNEC produced higher levels of RANTES but fibroblasts produced higher levels of eotaxin, SCF and IL-8. At the 1 hr time point, RANTES induced more profound chemotasis of mast cells as compared to other chemokines and SCF.These results strongly suggest that RANTES is a critical factor regulating mast cell migration into the allergic nasal epithelium.