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Topical glucocorticoids downregulate COX‐1 positive cells in nasal polyps
Author(s) -
Ebbens F. A.,
Maldonado M.,
De Groot E. J. J.,
Alobid I.,
Van Drunen C. M.,
Picado C.,
Fokkens W. J.,
Mullol J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01815.x
Subject(s) - nasal polyps , medicine , immunoglobulin e , inflammation , immunology , mucous membrane of nose , allergy , antibody
Background: Influx of inflammatory cells is one of the hallmarks of nasal polyposis. As glucocorticoids (GC) are known to exhibit strong anti‐inflammatory effects, these drugs are frequently used in the treatment of the disease. Part of the anti‐inflammatory effects of GC is attributed to their interference with prostanoid synthesis. As cyclooxygenases (COX) are key enzymes in the synthesis of both pro‐ (COX‐1, COX‐2) and anti‐inflammatory prostanoids (COX‐2), we investigated the role of topical GC on COX‐1, COX‐2 and inflammatory markers in nasal polyps (NP). Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of inflammatory markers (CD68, CD117, MBP, elastase, IgE, BB‐1, IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐6), COX‐1 and COX‐2 was performed on normal nasal mucosa (NM) ( n = 18), non‐GC treated NP ( n = 27) and topical GC treated NP ( n = 12). NP groups were matched for allergy, asthma and ASA intolerance. Results: Increased numbers of eosinophils, IL‐5+ cells and IgE+ cells and decreased numbers of mastcells are striking features of NP inflammation ( P < 0.05). In addition, increased numbers of COX‐1+ cells are observed in NP epithelium compared to NM ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Topical GC significantly reduce the number of COX‐1+ NP cells ( P < 0.05), but have no significant effect on COX‐2+ NP cells. No significant reduction in the number of eosinophils is observed for GC treated NP. The number of IL‐5+ cells is however increased significantly upon GC treatment ( P < 0.05).