Intranasal steroids decrease eosinophils but not mucin expression in nasal polyps

PR Burgel, Lars-Olaf Cardell, IF Ueki, JA Nadel

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Increased mucin expression is a feature of nasal polyposis. Corticosteroids reduce polyp size and symptoms, but their effect on mucin production remains unknown. In this study, the effects of intranasal corticosteroids on MUC5AC mucin expression, nasal resistance, eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin (IL)-8, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression was assessed in nasal polyps. In nine subjects, one nasal polyp was removed surgically before treatment and another was removed after 8 weeks of intranasal fluticasone (400 mug.day(-1)). Tissues were processed for in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical staining. Described effects of fluticasone on nasal polyps (reduction in nasal resistance and in eosinophil infiltration) were evaluated. Morphometric analysis was performed to assess the effect of fluticasone on epithelial-, MUC5AC-, EGFR- and IL-8-stained areas, TNF-alpha-stained cells, and neutrophil numbers. Treatment with fluticasone decreased nasal resistance and intra-epithelial eosinophils. The MUC5AC-stained area in the epithelium was unchanged by treatment; MUC5AC mRNA expression was unaffected by treatment. EGFR-stained area, intraepithelial neutrophil numbers, IL-8 and TNF-alpha expression were also unchanged by therapy. Intranasal fluticasone was effective in decreasing nasal airflow resistance and intra-epithelial eosinophils but had no effect on mucin or epidermal growth factor receptor expression or on neutrophil recruitment.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)594-600
    JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
    Volume24
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

    Subject classification (UKÄ)

    • Respiratory Medicine and Allergy

    Free keywords

    • steroid treatment
    • mucous hypersecretion
    • interleukin-8
    • airway epithelium
    • epidermal growth factor receptor
    • leukocyte recruitment

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Intranasal steroids decrease eosinophils but not mucin expression in nasal polyps'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this