Endothelial L-selectin ligands in sinus mucosa during chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis.
BACKGROUND
Chronic rhinosinusitis is characterized by persistent inflammation of the nasal and paranasal mucosa with numerous emigrated leukocytes. L-selectin on leukocytes and its endothelial glycosylated ligands initiate organ-specific leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissues.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the endothelial expression of functionally active endothelial L-selectin ligands, sulfated sialyl Lewis x, in maxillary sinus mucosa from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and from normal control subjects.


METHODS
Maxillary sinus mucosa specimens (116) were obtained surgically and immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies detecting sialyl Lewis x or sulfated extended core 1 lactosamines. The severity of the inflammation was determined by intraoperative endoscopic findings, computed tomography scans, and histopathologic assessment of the specimens.


RESULTS
The percentage of vessels expressing endothelial sulfated sialyl Lewis x epitopes increased during chronic rhinosinusitis compared with uninflamed control tissue, especially in patients with additional allergic rhinitis, and decreased in specimens from aspirin-intolerant patients with preoperative oral corticosteroid treatment. In addition, the expression level of endothelial sulfated sialyl Lewis x epitopes and the number of mucosal eosinophils correlated with the severity of the inflammation, and decreased in specimens taken 9 months postoperatively compared with intraoperative samples, especially in patients with intranasal corticosteroid treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that functionally active L-selectin ligands might guide leukocyte traffic into maxillary sinus mucosa preferentially in patients with severe findings of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis, thus leading to aggravation of the inflammation.
Toppila-Salmi
Sanna K
SK
Department of Eye, Ear and Oral Diseases, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Helsinki.
Myller
Jyri P
JP
Torkkeli
Tommi V M
TV
Muhonen
Jarkko V
JV
Renkonen
Jutta A
JA
Rautiainen
Markus E
ME
Renkonen
Risto L O
RL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015415:Biomarkers; D008024:Ligands; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D019041:L-Selectin