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Angiogenesis and cell proliferation in nasal polyposis
Author(s) -
Ahmed S.K.,
Williams J.L.,
DrakeLee A.,
Egginton S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2008.01747_14.x
Subject(s) - angiogenesis , medicine , pathology , stromal cell , dapi , cell growth , staining , anatomy , biology , genetics
Objectives. Nasal polyposis has been proposed to be an angiogenic disorder. The aim of this study was to quantify the extent and type of angiogenesis in nasal polyposis. Method. Polyp and inferior turbinate biopsies were taken from each side of patients with bilateral polyposis. External control samples were taken from patients undergoing routine septorhinoplasty. None of the patients had any history of asthma, allergy or aspirin sensitivity. One set of samples was snap frozen, cryosectioned, and stained using fluorescent lectins (stains capillaries), Ki67 (stains proliferating nuclei) and DAPI (stains all nuclei). Capillary density, capillary associated proliferation indices, epithelial proliferation indices and stromal proliferation indices were all measured. Parallel sections were also stained for apoptosis using TUNEL staining. A second set of samples were formalin‐fixed and immersion stained for capillaries, then analysed in multiple orientations using confocal microscopy. Capillary fractional area, surface area, surface to volume ratio and mean diameter were measured. Results. There was no significant change from controls in capillary density, capillary‐associated proliferation, capillary fractional area, surface area or surface to volume ratio. Increases in stromal proliferation and apoptosis were seen in polyp samples. Conclusions. None of the commonly used measures of angiogenesis showed evidence of angiogenesis occurring in the polyp beyond that required for normal tissue growth. The architecture of the capillary bed is identical to the inferior turbinate tissue, hence angiogenesis is not a driving force in nasal polyposis. The previously reported presence of pro‐angiogenic growth factors may be involved in stromal proliferation and cell turnover.