Late Breaking Abstract - The effects of allergen (DP/DF) on mucociliary transport of allergic rhinitis patients

Mucociliary transport (MCT) is a major respiratory tract host defense mechanism and chronic exposure to allergen can deteriorate defense mechanism like MCT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of common allergen (DP/DF) on human nasal mucociliary transport in allergic rhinitis patients, and to determine the pathophysiology of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) during allergen-induced change. Allergic nasal mucosa cells of allergic rhinitis patients were exposed to common allergen (DP/DF), and CBF was analyzed using an optical flow technique with the peak detection method. The allergen (DP/DF) exposed group showed a decreased CBF when compared to the control group. In the cytotoxicity assay, difference in survival rates was not found between the two groups. In the allergen(DP/DF) -exposed group, protein kinase C (PKC) activity was increased during a PKC activity assay. The broad PKC inhibitor, Calphostin C abolished the allergen (DP/DF)-induced decreased CBF. The allergen induced decrease of CBF was abolished by GF 109203X, a novel PKC (n PKC) isoform inhibitor, whereas the decrease was not attenuated by Go-6976, a specific inhibitor of conventional PKC (Cpkc) isoform. Allergen may inhibit CBF vis an n PKC-dependent mechanism. There we have found that chronic exposure to allergen could decrease CBF by increasing PKC activity