Apoptosis in eosinophilic nasal polyps treated in vitro with mitomycin C.
The etiopathogenesis of eosinophilic nasal polyps is yet to be explained. Eosinophils are key components in the inflammatory infiltrate and are related to the perpetuation of the inflammatory process in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.


OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to evaluate the in vitro action of mitomycin upon the apoptotic index of nasal polyps.


METHODS
This is a self-paired prospective experimental study using biopsy fragments from 15 patients with eosinophilic nasal polyps. Biopsy fragments were divided into two groups. In the case group, the fragments were treated with 400 µg/ml of mitomycin for five minutes. The control group fragments were treated with culture medium. The pair of fragments contained in the two first compartments - control and case - were immediately sent to the histopathologist. The other pair of samples containing control and case fragments was incubated for 12 hours. The fragments were then taken to the histopathologist for testing. The apoptotic index was determined by the morphometry in hematoxylin and eosin staining and DNA fragmentation analysis (TUNEL reaction).


RESULTS
The comparison between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0,001) in the apoptotic index of the 12-hour incubated cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Mitomycin acts in vitro upon the eosinophilic nasal polyps inducing the rise of the eosinophilic apoptotic index.
Department of Pathology of the Biologic Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Cláudia Pena Galvão dos
CP
Anjos
Anilton Cesar
AC
Vasconcelos
Paulo Fernando Tormin Borges
PF
Crosara
Gustavo Coelho dos
GC
Anjos
Celso Gonçalves
CG
Becker
Roberto Eustáquio Santos
RE
Guimarães
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D016685:Mitomycin