Molecular profile of the antrochoanal polyp: up-regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta in maxillary sinus mucosa.
BACKGROUND
Various pathogenetic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the development of antrochoanal polyps (ACPs); however, the cause is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression and the potential role of a battery of molecular markers in the development of ACPs. A prospective controlled study of a case series was performed.


METHODS
Tissue samples of maxillary sinus mucosa were obtained from 14 patients with ACPs, 17 patients with chronic nonpolypoid maxillary sinusitis, and 4 patients with normal maxillary sinus mucosa; RNAs were extracted from the sinus mucosa, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor P, and mucin genes (MUC), MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC8, to investigate their expression.


RESULTS
The expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta was significantly higher in ACPs than in chronic rhinosinusitis and healthy mucosa. Meanwhile, the levels of expression of MUC genes were higher in ACPs and chronic rhinosinusitis compared with healthy mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that ACPs may represent an inflammatory reaction caused by overproduction of tissue-derived growth factors in an inductive environment.
Mahfouz
Magdy Elsayed
ME
Department of Biological Sciences, Tanta University, Egypt.
Elsheikh
Mohamed Nasser
MN
Ghoname
Nagla Fawzy
NF
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000378:metabolism; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015523:Maxillary Sinusitis / Q000235:genetics; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics; D011127:Polyps / Q000235:genetics*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D009077:Mucins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2