title: Significance of the IL-6 pathway in nasal polyposis in Chinese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway is known to be important in Th17 cell differentiation and in the pathology of many inflammatory disorders. However, the significance of the IL-6 pathway in nasal polyposis (NP) in Chinese patients remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the functions of the IL-6 pathway in NP in Chinese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of IL-6 pathway components, including IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), phosphoSTAT3 (pSTAT3), and suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3), were assessed. The Th17 milieu was examined by measuring the levels of retinoid acid-related orphan receptor C (RORc) and IL-17A.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of IL-6 pathway components, RORc, and IL-17A were significantly higher in both NP groups than in the control(p<0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher levels of pSTAT3, RORc, and IL-17A, and significantly lower levels of SOCS3 were found in the atopic group than in the non-atopic group(P<0.05). IL-6 and sIL-6R levels were not significantly different between the 2 NP groups(P>0.05). pSTAT3 exhibited significantly positive correlations with RORc and IL-17A(P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression levels of the IL-6 pathway components were significantly higher in NP patients. Moreover, p-STAT3 levels were much higher in the atopic group, and were associated with a more severe Th17 response. These results suggest that the IL-6 pathway may play a crucial role in the pathology of NP in Chinese patients, and atopy may contribute to NP by affecting the IL-6 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hong-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Su-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins