Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha in the nasal polyps by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
OBJECTIVE
Hypoxia may result in increased recruitment of inflammatory cells and release of various inflammatory cytokines. Local hypoxia within the sinus is believed to aggravate sinus inflammation. In this study, we tried to investigate the correlation of hypoxia-inducible factor, which is upregulated under hypoxic condition, and nasal polyposis.


METHODS
Forty-four polyps from patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and 38 inferior turbinate mucosa were obtained for immunohistochemical staining. Twenty-three polyps and 22 turbinate mucosa also underwent real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA). The severity of the disease was judged by the Lund-Mackay CT scoring.


RESULTS
Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor protein, but not mRNA, was significantly increased in nasal polyps compared with that in the turbinate mucosa, but it did not correlate with the disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that hypoxia may have a role in the initiation of nasal polyposis.
Chien
Chen-Yu
CY
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tai
Chih-Feng
CF
Ho
Kuen-Yao
KY
Kuo
Wen-Rei
WR
Chai
Chee-Yin
CY
Hsu
Ying-Che
YC
Wang
Ling-Feng
LF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism
D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit