MUCOGLYCOPROTEIN HYPERSECRETION IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

There is little information about specific changes in submucosal gland exocytosis in diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR), nonallergic rh initis (NAR), and cystic fibrosis (CF). Nasal lavage fluids were colle cted from normal, AR, NAR, and CF subjects. Concentrations of lysozyme , Alcian blue-staining mucoglycoconjugate material (AB-tm), and human high-molecular-weight; mucoglycoconjugates recognized by the 7F10 muri ne monoclonal antibody [7F10-immunoreactive mucoglycoconjugates (7F10- irm)] were measured. AB + m and 7F10-irm were characterized by Sepharo se-2B column chromatography and glycosidase digestion. 7F10-irm was in creased in CF (2.4-fold; P = 0.001) and AR (12.7-fold; P = 0.00007) su bjects. AB+m was increased in CF (1.8-fold; P = 0.049) and AR (1.2-fol d; P = 0.07) subjects. There were no changes in NAR subjects. On Sepha rose-2B columns, AB+m peaks were at 1.3-3.0 x 10(6) and 0.36-0.65 x 10 (6) Da. 7F10-irm showed four distinct peaks at 1.5, 1.2, 0.85, and 0.5 3 x 10(6) Da that were nearly identical in both normal and CF samples. Sialic acid was present in both 7F10-irm and AB+m. 7F10-irm and AB+m are mutually exclusive sialylated mucoglycoproteins that are significa ntly induced in AR and CF but not in NAR.