Spatial expression of two anti-inflammatory mediators, annexin 1 and galectin-1, in nasal polyposis.
BACKGROUND
There is renewed interest in the role played by specific counter-regulatory mechanisms to control the inflammatory host response, poorly investigated in human pathology. Here, we monitored the expression of two anti-inflammatory mediators, annexin 1 and galectin-1, and assessed their potential link to glucocorticoids' (GCs) effective control of nasal polyposis (NP).


METHODS
Total patterns of mRNA and protein expression were analysed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting analyses, whereas ultrastructural immunocytochemistry was used for spatial localization and quantification of each mediator, focusing on mast cells, eosinophils and epithelial cells.


RESULTS
Up-regulation of the annexin 1 gene, and down-regulation of galectin-1 gene, was detected in polypoid tissue compared with nasal mucosa. Patient treatment with betamethasone augmented galectin-1 protein expression in polyps. At the cellular level, control mast cells and eosinophils displayed higher annexin 1 expression, whereas marked galectin-1 immunolabelling was detected in the granule matrix of mast cells. Cells of glandular duct epithelium also displayed expression of both annexin 1 and galectin-1, augmented after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Mast cells and epithelial cells appeared to be pivotal cell types involved in the expression of both annexin 1 and galectin-1. It is possible that annexin 1 and galectin-1 could be functionally associated with a specific mechanism in NP and that GC exert at least part of their beneficial effects on the airway mucosa by up-regulating, in a specific cell target fashion, these anti-inflammatory agonists.
Sena
A A S
AA
Post-Graduation in Morphology, São Paulo School of Medicine, UNIFESP, SP, Brazil.
Provazzi
P J S
PJ
Fernandes
A M
AM
Cury
P M
PM
Rahal
P
P
Oliani
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D017305:Annexin A1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D017305:Annexin A1; D037483:Galectin 1; D018836:Inflammation Mediators