‘Grout’ proteins: more is better of these gatekeeper cells

‘Grout’ proteins: more is better of these gatekeeper cells

A recent breakthrough in understanding people with chronic rhino-sinusitis was made at the University of Zurich.

Scientists there found that patients with severe nasal allergy, especially those with nasal polyps, have a defective epithelial cell barrier lining their nose.

The normal epithelium of the nose has tight junctions between the individual cells consisting of trans-membrane scaffolding cells. This can best be visualized as being like the grout between individual floor tiles in your home.

The Zurich researchers found a direct correlation between the severity of the rhinitis and/or polyps and the scarcity of the tight junction proteins. The reduction of these grout proteins allows two bad things to happen: First it allows easy access of allergens into the depth of the nasal tissue and, second, it allows wider dispersal of inflammatory molecules which worsen symptoms.

This discovery is probably not too surprising based on a similar situation in the skin of people with eczema and their lack of the intra-cellular grout called filagrin, which was previously discussed in this newsletter.

The scientists in Zurich are hopeful that this discovery will lead to new therapies that will restore the barrier function of the epithelium.

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