Glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity of eosinophils in nasal polyps.
CONCLUSIONS
The higher level of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in cases of chronic sinusitis with bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis suggests that glucocorticoids may exert a greater influence on eosinophils, thereby making them more effective in the treatment of polyps or chronic sinusitis.


OBJECTIVE
The GR immunoreactivity of eosinophils in nasal polyps was investigated to elucidate the mechanism by which glucocorticoids interact with eosinophils.


METHODS
Nasal polyp specimens were divided into 3 groups: 7 patients with chronic sinusitis alone (CS only group), 12 patients with chronic sinusitis complicated by perennial allergic rhinitis (CS/AR group), and 6 patients with chronic sinusitis complicated by bronchial asthma except for aspirin-induced asthma (CS/asthma group). Immunofluorescent staining with an anti-GR polyclonal antibody and anti-major basic protein (MBP) monoclonal antibody was used.


RESULTS
The total number of MBP+ cells, GR+ cells, and MBP+/GR+ cells in the CS/asthma group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups. The total number of these cells in the CS/AR group was also higher than that in the CS only group The ratio of MBP+/GR+ cells to GR+ cells was highest in the CS/asthma group. The ratio of MBP+/GR+ cells to MBP+ cells in the CS only group was lower than those in the other two groups.
Yu
Mei
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
So
S
Kudo
Mutsuo
M
Kanai
Ken-Ichi
K
Suzaki
Harumi
H
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000473:pathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology
D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid