Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2005 May;48(5):619-623.

A Immunohistochemical Study of Expression of Inducible Isoform of Heme Oxygenase on Human Nasal Polyps

• Park SY
• Choi TW
• Lee JH
• Choi SH
• Lee JH
• Yun KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Nasal polyp is non-neoplastic, chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. Oxidative stress may be related to the pathogenesis of nasal polyp. Oxidative stress may be potential inducers of heme oxygenase (HO-1) expression. To illustrate the role of the HO-1 in the nasal polyp, we investigated the expressive pattern of the HO-1 in the nasal polyp and the influence of corticosteroids on its expression. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The study materials were 28 specimens of nasal polyp (steroid user: 13 cases, steroid non-user: 15 cases) taken from 28 patients during endoscopic sinus surgery and 11 cases of normal nasal mucosa of the inferior turbinate as control. The HO-1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The HO-1 was mainly expressed on non-epithelial cells in the lamina propria of nasal polyps in 20/28 (71.4%). The expression of HO-1 was positive in 11 out of 13 (84.6%) and 9 out of 15 (60%) subjects for steroid user and steroid non-user group, respectively. The inflammatory cells were almost identified as macrophage by using a macrophage specific marker (CD68+). The HO-1 was not expressed in normal control at all. There was no significant difference in the expression of HO-1 between the steroid user group and the non-user group. CONCLUSION: HO-1, as an important endogenous antioxidant enzyme, may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyp. Steroid may not regulate the HO-1 expression in the nasal polyp.

Keyword

Nasal polyp; HO-1; Oxidative stress

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)*
Heme*
Humans*
Macrophages
Mucous Membrane
Nasal Mucosa
Nasal Polyps*
Oxidative Stress
Turbinates
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Heme
Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)