Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and vascularity in the nasal mucosa from allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Background Angiogenesis plays critical roles in various pathological mechanisms. It has been hypothesized that the vascularity in allergic nasal mucosa is different from that in normal mucosa, and that changes in the vascular network contributes the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. Objective To determine whether hypervascularity and overexpression of the platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), an angiogenic factor, are found in allergic nasal mucosa and whether these two factors are associated with the allergic reaction. Methods We investigated the expression of PD-ECGF and counted microvessels in 51 nasal mucosae (30 samples from patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 s..