Purpose The Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic potential of the TLR9 pathway inhibitor chloroquine in CRS mice. Methods The expression of type I interferons (IFNs) in human CRS tissues was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Mice were divided into 4 treatment groups: the control, nasal polyp (NP), chloroquine treatment (NP + Chlq), and dexamethasone treatment (NP + Dexa) groups. The effects of chloroquine on polyp formation and mucosal inflammation were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of type I IFN, B-cell activating factor (BAFF), TLR9, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and proinflammatory cytokine expression levels were assessed using qPCR, western blot, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results IFN-α and IFN-β mRNA levels were significantly higher in patients with eosinophilic NPs (EPs) than in healthy individuals or non-EP patients. The polyp score, epithelial thickness, mucosal thickness, and the number of eosinophils in nasal mucosa were significantly higher in the NP group compared with the control, NP + Chlq, and NP + Dexa groups. NP + Chlq or NP + Dexa significantly suppressed the induction of type I IFN and BAFF expression in the NP group; these treatments also significantly suppressed the induction of TLR9, HMGB1, interferon regulatory factors, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and Th cytokine expression in the NP group. The secreted levels of anti-dsDNA Immunoglobulin G (IgG) were significantly higher in the NP group than in the control, NP + Chlq, and NP + Dexa groups. There were significant positive correlations between BAFF and mRNA levels of IFN-α/β/the protein levels of anti-dsDNA IgG. Conclusions Chloroquine may be used for the treatment of patients with eosinophilic CRS.

Schwannoma, also known as neurilemmoma, is a benign neoplasm that originates from any nerves wrapped with a sheath made of Schwann cells. Schwannoma occurring in the head and neck region is not rare, but schwannomas of the anterior neck, especially ansa cervicalis, are extremely rare that only 7 cases have been reported to date worldwide. Although rare, it should be considered in differential diagnosis of anterior cervical mass and may be confused with other cervical and thyroid mass. We report a case of intramuscular schwannoma in the sternohyoid muscle. Preoperative diagnosis was established with an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. Although it was removed entirely without connection to any other nerves identified or any complication, clinically, the mass was thought to be derived from the nerve. To our knowledge, this is the first case of the intramuscular schwannoma occurring from ansa cervicalis reported in the literature.

Background and Objectives A recent study revealed that calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP) plays an important role in inflammatory airway diseases. However, the influence of CGRP on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has not been studied. This study investigated the expression, activity, and potential pathogenic role of CGRP in patients with CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).Subjects and Method Patients with CRSwNP and control subjects were enrolled. The CRSwNP group was divided according to the presence of eosinophilic polyps and non-eosinophilic polyps. Nasal polyps (NPs) and uncinate tissues (UTs) from patients with CRSwNP and UTs from control subjects were obtained to investigate the expression of α-/β-CGRP and chromogranin A. In addition, the expression patterns of cytokines following exposure to exogenous CGRP were analyzed in dispersed nasal polyp cells (DNPCs) from patients with eosinophilic or non-eosinophilic CRSwNP. The effects of CGRP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling change were evaluated in THP-1 cells.Results The expression of α-/β-CGRP and number of CGRP-producing cells were significantly higher in NPs from patients with CRSwNP than in UTs from controls. Exogenous CGRP decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in DNPCs from patients with eosinophilic nasal polyps (EPs) and also increased the expression of tissue remodeling-related and anti-inflammatory cytokines in DNPCs from patients with non-eosinophilic nasal polyps (N-EPs). CGRP inhibited the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor (IκB) phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation in LPS-stimulated M1 macrophages.Conclusion CGRP expression in NPs may play a significant role in nasal polypogenesis through inflammatory modulation, and it could be a future target to modulate certain aspects of CRSwNP.

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