In vitro effects of some differentiation inductors in metaplastic epithelium of the human nasal cavity.
The alterations in the mucociliary unit in the course of chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract correspond to morphologic anomalies of the respiratory epithelium and induce cuboidal and squamous metaplasia. While the squamous pattern is most probably irreversible, it is still not clear whether it is possible to restore ciliogenesis in cuboidal metaplasia. In the present study, the action of different inductors of differentiation was evaluated in vitro in isolated cells and explants from human nasal metaplastic epithelium. Polar/apolar compounds induced secretory activity, whereas retinoic acid was able to induce ciliogenesis in some cases. Therefore, the cuboidal metaplastic condition appears to be reversible, and two distinct pathways of differentiation, secretory and ciliogenetic, are identifiable.
Gulisano
M
M
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Firenze, Viale Morgagni 85, Policlinico di Careggi, I-50134, Firenze, Italy.
Pacini
S
S
Ruggiero
M
M
Pacini
A
A
Delrio
A N
AN
Pacini
P
P
D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006397:Hematinics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D009304:Nasopharyngitis / Q000473:pathology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000081:Acetamides; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D014212:Tretinoin; C014026:hexamethylene bisacetamide; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide