Interleukin-8 expression in human nasal polyps.
The cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) has been shown to be a potent mediator of leukocyte recruitment and neovascularization in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. In this study we hypothesize that IL-8 produced in the nasal polyp microenvironment is responsible for the leukocyte recruitment seen in nasal polyposis. To test this hypothesis we evaluated nasal polyps for distribution and content of IL-8 antigen with immunohistochemical techniques and radioimmunoassay to determine tissue levels of IL-8. The immunohistochemical results demonstrated that IL-8 antigen staining occurred predominantly within inflammatory cells and epithelium. IL-8 was detected in all nasal polyp tissue homogenates (a mean value of 1767 +/- 1633 pg/mg total protein (TP) with a range of 134 to 3668 pg/mg TP vs control specimens with a mean value of 77 pg/mg TP with a range of 0.09 to 255 pg/mg TP). These data demonstrate the presence and distribution and levels of IL-8 antigen in nasal polyps in vivo, supporting our hypothesis that local production of IL-8 could be an important factor in the sustained recruitment of leukocytes in nasal polyposis. Thus IL-8 likely plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of this disease process and therefore is a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Allen
J S
JS
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-3105, USA.
Eisma
R
R
Leonard
G
G
Lafreniere
D
D
Kreutzer
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D000941:Antigens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins