[Expression of palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone in primary and recurrent nasal polyps].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone (PLUNC) in na sal polyps (NP) and evaluate its association with clinical severity. METHOD: Twenty-eight NP patients (primary polyp, 15; recurrent polyp, 13) and 16 normal controls (healthy uncinate process) were enrolled, the expression of PLUNC was examined in nasal tissues by immunohistochemistric staining, quantitative PCR and ELISA respectively. The protein level of PLUNC in nasal polyps was correlated with nasal symptom score (nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, respectively). RESULT: PLUNC was mainly distributed in the epithelial layer and submucosal glands in nasal tissues. The staining intensity and mRNA level of PLUNC were significantly decreased in polyp tissues than in normal controls (P < 0.01). The protein levels of PLUNC were 0.33 +/- 0.11 and 0.15 +/- 0.05 in primary and recurrent polyp tissues (P < 0.01), and were 0.32 +/- 0.14 and 0.19 +/- 0.07 in small-size and big-size polyp tissues (P < 0.05). The protein level of PLUNC in polyp tissues significantly correlated with both nasal congestion score and rhinorrhea score (r = -0.51 and r = -0.57, P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Decreased PLUNC in polyp tissues indicated that impaired innate immunity may account for the pathogenic process of NP. Thus upregulating PLUNC may represent a promising therapeutic target for the management of NP.