Artikel
First detection of Elafin in the paranasal sinus mucosa by immunohistochemistry
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Veröffentlicht: | 8. Juli 2008 |
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Gliederung
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Introduction: The chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a frequent inflammatory disease and has a complex pathogenesis. Elafin is a serine antiprotease antagonizing human neutrophil elastase, thereby preventing tissue injury from excessive release of proteolytic enzymes by inflammatory cells. A potential role of the defensin-like peptide Elafin in the pathogenesis of CRS is unknown.
Methods: We investigated tissue samples of paranasal sinus mucosa (ethmoid or maxillary) from 21 patients (f/m: 10/11, Ø-age: 39,9 yrs.) by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against Elafin (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). We investigated three subgroups: 1) controll (n=5), 2) CRS with nasal polyps (n=8), 3) CRS without nasal polyps (n=8).
Results: We demonstrated Elafin production in all groups. Elafin was expressed by the mucous cells in the respiratory epithelium but not in the stroma. Highest Elafin levels were found in the subgroup of patients with CRS without nasal polyps, the lowest in the control group without CRS. Considering the small subgroups no statistical significant difference could be revealed.
Conclusion: The serine antiprotese Elafin is present in the paranasal sinus mucosa.
The pathogenetic role remains unclear. Nevertheless we found different Elafin levels depending on the clinical degree of the sinsus disease. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the relevance of Elafin in pathogenesis of CRS.