Surfactant protein A and D in human sinus mucosa: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Surfactant-associated proteins (SPs) play a crucial role in the innate defense system and serve as the initial step in the immune response to inhaled pathogens. SP-A and SP-D expression and function are altered in a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the lungs, such as asthma, allergies, and cystic fibrosis, but their presence and function in the sinonasal cavity has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that SP-A and SP-D are present in the human sinus.


METHODS
Sinus mucosal biopsies were performed in 8 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, pituitary tumors, and cerebrospinal fluid leak repairs. Expression of SP mRNA and protein by the sinus mucosa was detected by RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
Analyses of mucosal biopsies from these patients revealed the presence of SP-A and SP-D mRNA and protein in all specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
SP-A and SP-D are expressed in both normal and diseased human sinus tissue. Understanding the role of SPs in diseased and healthy states may elucidate their possible roles in innate immunity in the upper airway and allow us to develop novel treatments for sinonasal pathologies.
Woodworth
Bradford A
BA
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. woodwort@musc.edu
Neal
Jeffrey G
JG
Newton
Danforth
D
Joseph
Kusuman
K
Kaplan
Allen P
AP
Baatz
John E
JE
Schlosser
Rodney J
RJ
D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D012333:RNA, Messenger