Publication Date:
2013-06-22
Description:
Aims The aim of this study was to assess EMP1 protein and mRNA expression in the nasal mucosa of patients with nasal polyps (NP) and to determine what changes occur in response to glucocorticosteroid (GC) treatment. Methods and Results NP tissue was obtained from 55 patients, 18 of whom were treated with nasal GCs (i.e., these 18 patients had NP biopsies taken before and after treatment). Biopsies of inferior turbinate mucosa from 30 healthy subjects were used as controls. Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the expression levels of EMP1. The EMP1 mRNA expression (2.77-fold) was significantly lower in tissues from NP patients before GC treatment when compared to controls, but it was increased in these patients after GC treatment. EMP1 was stained in nasal epithelium and was co-localized with both basal (p63 + ) and differentiated (CK18 + ) epithelial cells. Their immunoreactivity was significantly greater in controls than NP patients, especially in those with severe hyperplastic (1.79-fold) or metaplastic (1.85-fold) epithelium. Positive correlations between EMP1 and other epithelial cell related gene (e.g. JUN, PTGS2, and AREG, etc.) mRNAs were observed. Conclusions EMP1 could be a biomarker for aberrant epithelial remodeling and metaplasia in chronic inflammatory upper airway mucosa (e.g. NP). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Print ISSN:
0309-0167
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2559
Topics:
Medicine
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