Relationship Between the Expression of LC3 (Microtubule-Associated Protein 1A/1B-Light Chain 3) in Nasal Mucosa and Serum IL-5 and IL-4 Concentrations in Allergic Rhinitis Mice

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the expression and correlation of autophagy-related microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta LC3 and interleukin-5 IL-5 in allergic rhinitis AR.

Methods

Fifty-six 7-week-old BALC/C mice were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 56) and control group (n = 8). The experimental group used Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) for AR modeling, and control group used PBS solution. As the experimental group sampled at 6 time points, and 8 mice were sacrificed each time, while the control group was sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose. The contents of serum IL-4, IL-5, and dust mite specific IgE HDM-sIgE in mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA, and the morphological changes of nasal mucosa were detected by a hematoxylin-eosin H&E staining. The expression of LC3 in mouse nasal mucosa was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between LC3 and IL-5 levels.

Results

In AR mice modelled with dust mites, the serum levels of IL-4 and HDM-sIgE increased gradually, and the serum IL-5 concentration had a peak at the early intraperitoneal administration stage similar to that at the end of modelling. The LC3 level in nasal mucosa of AR mice modelled with dust mites increased gradually in the early stages, but stabilized in the later stages. The expression of LC3 level in nasal mucosa was a positively correlated ration between serum IL-5 level in AR mice.

Conclusion

In the early stage of AR mice, the level of nasal mucosal autophagy and serum IL-5 levels were significantly increased and correlated, suggesting that nasal mucosal autophagy played a promoting role in the early stage of AR.

Keywords:

• allergic rhinitis
• animal model
• autophagy IL-5

Data Sharing Statement

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of Yangtze University Health Science Center. Principles of Laboratory Animal Care (NIH Publication Vol 25, No. 28 revised 1996; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not96-208.html) were followed, as well as specific national laws (eg the current version of the German Law on the Protection of Animals) where applicable.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Jingzhou 2022 Health science and technology plan project 2022HC22.