Objective: To examine the changes of oxidative stress biomarkers in peripheral serum of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), so as to investigate the role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of AR.
Methods: The levels of serum nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the activities of serum nitric oxide synthase (NOS), antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured in 48 AR patients and 23 healthy controls. Statistical analysis was performed using a SPSS 13.0 software.
Results: The level of serum NO in AR group [(97.92 ± 73.42) µmol/L] was higher than that in healthy control group [(64.04 ± 29.54) µmol/L], the difference was significant (t = -0.281, P < 0.05). The ratio of inducible NOS (iNOS) to total NOS (TNOS) in AR group (0.51 ± 0.11) was higher than that in healthy control group(0.45 ± 0.15), the difference was significant (t = -2.061, P < 0.05). The activity of serum GSH-Px in AR group [(258.24 ± 45.25) U/(ml·min)] was higher than that in healthy control group (215.11 ± 47.62) U/(ml·min)], the difference was significant (t = -2.235, P < 0.05). Although activity of SOD, concentration of MDA in AR group had a tendency to increase and decrease, respectively, no significant statistical difference was found as compared to the control group (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of AR, however, iNOS-NO pathway may play a more important role in AR pathogenesis.