Expression of ecalectin, a novel eosinophil chemoattractant, in nasal polyps.
CONCLUSIONS
Ecalectin, which is produced in the mucosa of nasal polyps, seems to play an important role in the accumulation and activation of eosinophils in nasal polyps, regardless of the presence or absence of atopic predisposition.


OBJECTIVE
Ecalectin is a recently discovered eosinophil chemoattractant which elongs to the galectin family. We investigated the expression of ecalectin in nasal polyp tissues associated with various nasal and paranasal diseases in order to clarify the pathogenesis of eosinophilia in nasal polyposis.


METHODS
Nasal polyps were taken from 56 patients diagnosed as having chronic sinusitis with nasal polyposis. The surgically resected polyps and nasal turbinates were immunohistochemically stained using antibodies against EG2, human mast cell tryptase, CD3 and ecalectin.


RESULTS
The number of EG2- and ecalectin-positive cells was significantly higher in nasal polyps than control turbinates. Ecalectin-positive cells were observed in the subepithelial layer, where many EG2-positive cells were present. The number of ecalectin-positive cells correlated significantly with the number of EG2-positive cells in nasal polyps. Many ecalectin mRNA-positive cells were also observed in nasal polyps with an accumulation of EG2-positive cells.
Iino
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Kaga, Tokyo, Japan. yiorl@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Miyazawa
T
T
Kakizaki
K
K
Saigusa
H
H
Katano
H
H
Shiga
J
J
Kanegasaki
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D037161:Galectins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications; D014162:Transfection; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism
D037161:Galectins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C105032:LGALS9 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger