Peroxide Tone in Human Inferior Nasal Turbinate with Allergy

Background: The nose is chronically exposed to oxidative stress, which can easily lead to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damage and lipid oxidative damage of the upper airway. ROS may also participate in various diseases, including those of the airway, although many details are not yet known.

ROS is generated by various enzymatic reactions and chemical processes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) are representative scavengers. ROS are also generated through arachidonic acid cascades. One of the primary prostaglandins (PG), PGD2, is the major PG in most types of tissue, including the nose. We attempted to evaluate the peroxide tone by measuring these factors.

Methods: A total of 42 Japanese patients with and without nasal allergies were enrolled in this study. We determined the contents of lipid peroxide (LPO) and PGD2, as well as the activities of SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px of the anterior portion of the mucosa of the inferior turbinate, obtained by inferior turbinotomy.

Results: LPO and PGD2 contents increased significantly in the nasal allergy group. No statistically significant difference appeared in the activities of SOD, catalase, and GSH-Px were demonstrated in the nasal allergy group compared with the subjects without nasal allergy.

Conclusion: The imbalance of the peroxide tone in the nasal mucosa caused by stimulation of the cyclooxygenase pathway of the arachidonic acid cascade and ROS formation was demonstrated. Moreover, the increased number of ROS was not well metabolized in the nasal mucosa with allergy.