Background: It is unclear whether remodeling exists in allergic rhinitis in man. The aim of this study was to establish a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis with remodeling and to examine the effects of dexamethasone and pranlukast on nasal mucosa remodeling.
Methods: In the first experiment, three groups of ovalbumin-sensitized Hartley guinea pigs received intranasal challenges with ovalbumin for 1, 8, 12 weeks, respectively. In the second experiment, to examine the effect of dexamethasone and pranlukast, the animals were divided into 4 groups: negative control group; ovalbumin-sensitized group; ovalbumin + dexamethasone group; and ovalbumin + pranlukast group. During 12 weeks of intranasal exposure to ovalbumin, the latter two groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of dexamethasone and pranlukast, respectively.
Results: In the first experiment, in contrast to the negative control group, the ovalbumin-sensitized group exhibited significant goblet cell hyperplasia, epithelial damage and deposition of extracellular matrix in the nasal septal mucosa and conchae. In the second experiment, these changes were significantly inhibited by dexamethasone and pranlukast, respectively.
Conclusions: We have established a model of upper airway remodeling in guinea pigs. The tissue remodeling was inhibited by early intervention with the antiallergic-inflammatory agents dexamethasone and pranlukast.