Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolite generation in nasal polyps.
A role of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps has been recently suggested. Cyclooxygenase (CO) products (thromboxane B2, PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha) and lipoxygenase (LO) products (LTB4 and LTC4) were investigated by radioimmunoassay in polyps, hypertrophic turbinates and nasal mucosa from 14 patients with non-allergic (n = 6), allergic chronic rhinitis (n = 6) and aspirin-sensitive asthma (ASA) (n = 2), who underwent polypectomy. In all tissues CO metabolite levels were found higher than LO products (P < 0.01). Nasal polyps showed a significantly lower (P < 0.05) arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in comparison to nasal mucosa. In polyps of allergic patients significantly higher LTB4 levels (P < 0.001) and a tendency to produce higher amounts of CO products in comparison to non-allergic subjects were observed, whereas in turbinates of non-allergic patients LT levels were significantly higher in comparison to those of allergic ones (P < 0.01). In ASA patients a decreased CO/LO ratio was found supporting the hypothesis of an imbalance of AA metabolism in this syndrome. These findings seem to indicate that the occurrence of nasal polyps may represent the result of different chronic inflammatory stimuli, regulated in part by AA metabolites.
Pinto
S
S
Clinica Medica I, University of Florence, Italy.
Gallo
O
O
Polli
G
G
Boccuzzi
S
S
Paniccia
R
R
Brunelli
T
T
Abbate
R
R
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism
D007975:Leukotriene B4; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone