Eosinophilic nasal polyps are a rich source of eotaxin, eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3.
BACKGROUND
The CC-chemokine eotaxin plays a key role in the pathologic mechanism of tissue eosinophilia in nasal polyposis. In this study, we investigated a possible role of eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3, the recently discovered members of the eotaxin family.


METHODS
Nasal polyps from 24 patients (non allergic/allergic/aspirin-intolerant patients) and turbinate tissue from 8 controls were investigated. Chemokine protein content (eotaxin, eotaxin-2, and -3) of tissue homogenates was measured by ELISA. Paraffin sections of samples were stained to determine the extent of eosinophilia.


RESULTS
Protein expression of eotaxin, eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 was significantly higher in nasal polyps than in controls. There was a direct correlation between the protein concentrations of all three eotaxins. Further, protein levels of all chemokines were significantly correlated to the amount of eosinophilia. In aspirin-sensitive polyps the number of eosinophils was significantly higher than in the other patient groups and they had significantly higher eotaxin, eotaxin-2, and -3 protein levels than non-allergic and significantly higher amounts of eotaxin-3 compared with allergic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest, that all members of the eotaxin family are involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. The results are more likely indicative of a complex cooperation between all members of the eotaxin family than of a specific role in the development of eosinophilia and nasal polyposis.
Olze
H
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
Förster
U
U
Zuberbier
T
T
Morawietz
L
L
Luger
E O
EO
D000328:Adult; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054423:Chemokine CCL24; D000075906:Chemokine CCL26; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002631:Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*
C515456:CCL11 protein, human; C515484:CCL24 protein, human; C120429:CCL26 protein, human; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D054423:Chemokine CCL24; D000075906:Chemokine CCL26; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D002631:Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil