title: Overexpression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met in nasal polyps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression and distribution of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-Met proteins in normal nasal mucosa and in nasal polyps and to evaluate the possible effects of HGF and c-Met on the development of nasal polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary academic institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal inferior turbinate mucosa was obtained from 20 patients undergoing surgery for augmentation rhinoplasty. Nasal polyps were obtained from 20 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic polypoid sinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and distribution of HGF and c-Met were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using immunohistochemistry, moderate to high levels of HGF were mainly localized in submucosal glands of nasal polyps, while c-Met was detected in submucosal glands and in epithelial cells. In normal turbinate mucosa, immunopositive HGF was detected in submucosal glands, where faint staining was found, while c-Met was noted in epithelial cells and in submucosal glands. Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis showed that HGF expression was increased in nasal polyps compared with that in normal turbinate mucosa. The same result was observed for c-Met.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated c-Met expression in combination with expression of HGF in nasal polyps may enhance the proliferation of epithelial cells and submucosal glandular cells through the release of HGF, which activates c-Met receptors in nasal polyps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. sanghag@kumc.or.kr
authors.forename: Ho Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Sang Hag
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heung-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hak Hyun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Joon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Moo Kyun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun Mook
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met