Nonasthmatic nasal polyposis patients with allergy exhibit greater epithelial MMP positivity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of allergic rhinitis (AR) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-2, and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloprotemase (TIMP-1) in nasal polyposis. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 was investigated in the nasal polyp tissue (NP) and maxillary sinus mucosa (MM) samples from 20 AR patients and 20 nonallergic patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff, and hematoxylin-eosm staining were also performed and those expression levels were compared. RESULTS: Infiltration of eosinophils was shown more intensely in NP rather than in MM, especially in the presence of AR. In the NP of AR patients, increased expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 was observed more prominently than in that of the control group. In case of MM, however, there was no significant difference between AR patients and the control group. CONCLUSION: The presence of AR may enhance the expression of MAV-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 associated with airway remodeling in nasal polyposis. (C) 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.