Histopathological features of nasal polyps with asthma association: an immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
Myofibroblasts are related to airway remodeling and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the histological features of nasal polyps associated with asthma. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the eosinophilic cationic protein, transforming growth factor (TGF) beta, and myofibroblasts in the nasal polyps of patients with chronic sinusitis associated with and without asthma.


METHODS
Nasal polyp samples were obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery and were classified into asthma and nonasthma groups. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against activated eosinophils, TGF-beta, and myofibroblasts.


RESULTS
The asthma group showed an increased number of activated eosinophils, TGF-beta, and myofibroblasts compared with the nonasthma and control groups. We found no correlation of asthma and aspirin intolerance with the immunohistochemical findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased number of myofibroblasts in the nasal polyps of the asthma group may be responsible for the extracellular matrix accumulation, polyp formation, and polyp recurrence.
Department of Otolaryngology. The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Shinichi
S
Haruna
Marcio
M
Nakanishi
Nobuyoshi
N
Otori
Hiroshi
H
Moriyama
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000032:analysis; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D012260:Ribonucleases