IL-12 receptor beta(2) and CD30 expression in paranasal sinus mucosa of patients with chronic sinusitis

The aetiology of chronic sinusitis is still poorly understood. The expressi on of T-helper 1 (Th1) and T-helper 2 (Th2) cell markers, interleukin (IL)- 12 receptor beta(2) subunit (IL-12R beta(2)) messenger ribonucleic acid (mR NA) and CD30, respectively, were investigated in the paranasal sinus mucosa of patients with chronic sinusitis in an attempt to elucidate the involvem ent of Th1 and Th2 cells in this disease. Anterior ethmoidal mucosae were surgically obtained from two groups of pati ents,vith chronic sinusitis: those who had allergic rhinitis (allergic grou p, n=11) and those without allergy (nonallergic group, n=11). IL-12R beta(2 ) mRNA was quantified by means of the reverse transcription polymerase chai n reaction, and CD30-positive cells were examined immunohistochemically. Both IL-12R beta(2) mRNA and CD30 were expressed in fire sinus mucosa of th e allergic and nonallergic groups. The proportion of mononuclear cells whic h were CD30-positive in the sinus mucosa was significantly greater in the a llergic than in the nonallergic group. The expression levels of IL-12R beta (2) mRNA were virtually equivalent in both groups. These results suggest a T-helper 2-dominated mucosal reaction in the allerg ic compared to the nonallergic group, and indicate T-helper 1 activity in t he sinus mucosa of both groups. The ubiquity of T-helper 1 cells suggests t hat they play a role in maintaining local mucosal defences against foreign antigens, which continually enter the upper respiratory tract.