[Immunocytochemical detection of caspase 3 in various diseases of human nasal mucosa].
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory processes play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), however, the impact of apoptosis in CRS in unclear. The aim of this study was a comparison of caspase 3 activity, a key enzyme in the apoptosis cascade, in samples of nasal tissue from patients with different types of rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out to detect caspase 3 in samples of nasal tissue from patients with CRS and nasal polyps (NP), allergic rhinitis (AR), rhinitis medicamentosa (RM) and atrophic rhinitis.


RESULTS
Evidence of increased apoptosis was found in the epithelium, submucosal glands and blood vessels in NP samples. Samples of RM showed strong caspase 3 activity in the endothelial cells and the lamina muscularis of blood vessels. In atrophic rhinitis the epithelium and subepithelial glands showed increased caspase 3 activity. In samples of patients with allergic rhinitis caspase 3 activity could not be detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Activated apoptosis seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of different types of rhinosinusitis. Further investigations on the induction of caspase 3 are necessary for the development of new therapeutic strategies to influence the regulation of apoptosis.
Hirt
R
R
Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Städtisches Klinikum Dessau, Auenweg 38, 06847, Dessau, Deutschland.
Paulsen
F
F
Neumann
K
K
Knipping
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D015415:Biomarkers; D053148:Caspase 3