The Expression of Epithelial Intercellular Junctional Proteins in the Sinonasal Tissue of Subjects with Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Histopathologic Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the expression of five epithelial intercellular junctional proteins in the sinonasal tissue of subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods: Forty-one samples of nasal polyp tissue of CRS patients with nasal polyps (wNP), 20 ethmoid sinus mucosa of CRS patients without nasal polyps (sNP) and 19 nasal mucosa of controls were collected and assessed for the expression of zonulae occludens (ZO-1), claudin-1, E-cadherin and desmoglein-1 and -2 (DSG1, DSG2) using immunohistochemical staining. Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the tissues were also measured using ELISA. Results: The expression of ZO-1, claudin-1, DSG1 and DSG2 in the CRSwNP patient group and the expression of claudin-1, DSG1 and DSG2 of the CRSsNP patient group was significantly lower compared to that of the control group. Furthermore, the expression of DSG1 in the CRSwNP patient group was also significantly lower than in the CRSsNP patient group. In contrast, the expression of E-cadherin in the CRSwNP and the CRSsNP patient groups was significantly greater compared to the controls. The assessment of associations between the expression of the intercellular junctional proteins and cytokines demonstrated negative correlations between IL-5 and claudin-1, IL-6 and claudin-1, IL-6 and DSG2, IL-8 and DSG1, and IL-8 and DSG2. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between IL-8 and E-cadherin. Conclusions: Differences in the expression of epithelial intercellular junctional proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRS.

Formation of papillary mucosa folds and enhancement of epithelial barrier in odontogenic sinusitis

“…Indeed, a disrupted epithelial barrier had been found in vivo and in vitro in the epithelia from patients with CRS with an altered expression pattern in TJs and this observation was more prominent in patients with CRSwNP than CRSsNP by Soyka et al . Likewise, Li et al . also reported that the expression of TJ proteins zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) and claudin‐1 was significantly lower in sinonasal tissues of Chinese patients with CRSwNP compared with control subjects.…”

Electrical Impedance and Expression of Tight Junction Components of the Nasal Turbinate and Polyp

“…On the other hand, at the corner where three epithelial cells join, the tight junction is made up of tricellulin. It has been documented that claudin-1 and tricellulin are expressed in the epithelium of the nasal mucosa [9,10,11] as well as in the epidermis [8,12]. The epidermis contains another important barrier protein, filaggrin.…”

Transforming growth factor-β1 decreases epithelial tight junction integrity in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

“…1,2 Recent data published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology have reported that there is a defective epithelial barrier along with a decreased expression of TJ proteins in Western patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and these defects may be mediated by cytokines IFN-g and IL-4. 2 Similarly, we have previously demonstrated that the expression of TJ proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-1 is also significantly lower in sinonasal tissues of Chinese patients with CRSwNP compared with control subjects, 3 although the mechanisms underlying the regulation of TJ barrier integrity in these patients are not clear.…”