Differential Expression Patterns of EGF, EGFR, and ERBB4 in Nasal Polyp Epithelium.
Epidermal growth factor receptors play an important role in airway epithelial cell growth and differentiation. The current study investigates the expression profiles of EGF, EGFR and ERBB4 in patients with nasal polyps (NP), and their response to glucocorticosteroid (GC) treatment. Fifty patients with NP (40 without GC treatment and 10 with oral GC) and 20 control subjects with septal deviation were recruited into the study. Protein levels of EGF, EGFR, and ERBB4 were evaluated by immune-staining. In healthy nasal epithelium, EGF and EGFR localized within p63+ basal cells, while ERBB4 localized within ciliated cells. GC-naïve NP epithelium showed weak expression of EGF in 90% of samples versus 5% of controls. EGFR was significantly increased in the epithelium with basal cell hyperplasia from GC-naïve NPs (78%, 31/40) compared to controls (23%, 4/17). EGFR was also found in some degranulating goblet cells. ERBB4 expression was significantly higher in hyperplastic epithelium from GC-naïve NPs (65%, 26/40) than in controls (6%, 1/17). GC treatment restored the EGF expression and normalized the EGFR and ERBB4 expression in NPs. Differential expression patterns of EGF, EGFR, and ERBB4 are essential in epithelial restitution and remodeling in nasal epithelium.
Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.|Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Chen
C
Duan
Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.|Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Chun Wei
CW
Li
Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Li
L
Zhao
Department of Otolaryngology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Somasundaram
S
Subramaniam
Department of Otolaryngology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Xue Min
XM
Yu
Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Ying Ying
YY
Li
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
De Hua
de H
Chen
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Tian Ying
TY
Li
Biostatistics Unit, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Liang
L
Shen
Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Li
L
Shi
Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
De Yun
de Y
Wang
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D055815:Young Adult
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; C512478:EGFR protein, human; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4