Interleukin-3 interleukin-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression in nasal polyps.
OBJECTIVE
Nasal polyps (NP) are grape-like clusters of chronically inflamed tissue. Little is known about the underlying cells and cytokines involved in nasal polyposis. For the present study, we hypothesize that elevated tissue levels of interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulation factor (GM-CSF) contribute to eosinophil recruitment and activation in NP.


METHODS
To begin to test this hypothesis, we evaluated IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF levels and distributions in nasal polyp specimens obtained intraoperatively from 13 patients and two normal controls. For these studies, nasal polyp levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF distribution was determined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical staining of the NP indicated that in all 13 patient samples, IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF were associated with infiltrating cells, primarily eosinophils, in the NP. Quantitation of IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF in NP tissue homogenates indicated that IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF levels were evaluated in the NP tissues when compared with control tissues. Additionally, elevation of individual cytokines correlated with previous polypectomy (IL-3), steroid use (IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF), asthma (IL-5), and age (GM-CSF).


CONCLUSIONS
These data support our hypothesis that IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF are likely to play a key role in eosinophil recruitment/activation and NP formation and support recently advanced theories that cytokines play a key role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Allen
J S
JS
Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dental Medicine, Farmington 06030, USA.
Eisma
R
R
Leonard
G
G
Kreutzer
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
D007377:Interleukin-3; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor