title: Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in nasal polyps.
abstract: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a polypeptide that is mitogenic for a wide variety of cell types. We used Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to determine if bFGF is expressed in the nasal polyp tissue; bFGF messenger RNA was detectable in the polyps examined by Northern blot analysis. Strong immunostaining for bFGF was found in blood vessels and along the basement membrane of the epithelial cell layers. Basal epithelial cells and some infiltrating mononuclear cells also stained for bFGF. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen colocalized with bFGF to basal epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and areas of focal epithelial metaplasia. The polyp tissue was double-labeled with a mouse monoclonal antitryptase, a specific mast cell marker, and anti-bFGF. A significant number (65% +/- 19%) of the bFGF-positive mononuclear cells in the polyp tissues were positive for tryptase. These findings suggest that bFGF may contribute to the endothelial and epithelial proliferation in nasal polyp tissues and that mast cells are one source of this growth factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: LaGesse
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liebler
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002648:Child; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2