title: Overexpression of Fas-ligand in human nasal polyps.
abstract: Apoptosis mediated through the Fas/Fas-L system is essential in regulating immune function, developing organs, and conferring immune privilege. To illustrate the role of the Fas/Fas-L system in the pathogenesis of human nasal polyps, we investigated the transcripts and protein level of the Fas-L gene in 8 human nasal polyp tissues and 7 nasal turbinate mucosa specimens using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Localization of Fas-L was performed with immunohistochemistry. The transcripts of the Fas-L gene were detected at similar levels in both polyps and nasal mucosa. There was a significant overexpression of Fas-L protein on nasal polyps compared to nasal mucosa. Fas-L-positive cells were localized on the epithelial layers of cystically dilated glands and the down-growing epithelium of nasal polyps. Fas-L may play an important role in the pathogenesis of human nasal polyps, including cystic degeneration of submucosal glands and conferring of immune privilege to nasal polyp formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019014:fas Receptor