Expression and localization of steroid receptors in human nasal mucosa

Author： Shirasaki Hideaki Watanabe Kazumasa Kanaizumi Etsuko Konno Nobuhiro Sato Jun Narita Shin-Ichirou Himi Tetsuo

ISSN： 0001-6489

Source： Acta Oto-Laryngologica, Vol.124, Iss.8, 2004-10, pp. : 958-963

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Abstract

Objective --To investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) in nasal mucosa. Material and Methods-- Human turbinates were obtained after turbinectomy from seven patients. The expression and localization of steroid receptors were examined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Results-- Using RT-PCR, GR and ER mRNA were detected in all cases. In contrast, ERβ, PR and AR mRNA were found in five, four and six cases, respectively. Using immunohistochemistry, antibodies to GR showed the presence of GR within all cells of nasal mucosa, with the highest quantities of GR being localized in epithelial cells, submucosal glands and inflammatory leukocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis of sex steroid receptor revealed that anti-ER antibody labelled mainly mast cells and anti-ERβ antibody labelled submucosal glands, and that no PR or AR expression was detected in any of the samples tested. Conclusions --The role of ER in mast cells and submucosal glands has not been well clarified. However, precise knowledge of the identity and distribution of sex steroid receptor should be of considerable interest in understanding the role of sex hormones in upper airway diseases such as allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.