Expression of CD44s in sinus mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Objective To explore the role of CD44s expression in chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS).Methods Thirty patients with CRS were grouped into two groups ofA(16 cases,without nasal polyps) and B(14 cases,with nasal polyps).Another 15 patients without CRS were taken as the controls(group C).Disease severity was evaluated by symptom score,endoscopy score and CT score.The infiltrating eosinophils(Eos)in mucosa specimens were counted by HE stain and the expression of CD44s was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Endoscopy score and CT score were significantly higher in group A than those in group B(P0.05).The number of tissues Eos was higher in group A than that in group B(P0.05).CD44s was mainly expressed in mucosa epithelial cells,vascular endothelial cells,submucosal gland cells and inflammatory cells within the subepithelial layer.CD44s levels were significantly higher in groups of A and B than those in group C(P0.01).CD44s expression was significantly higher in the group B than that in grouop A(P0.05).CD44s expression was positively correlated to CT scores and Eos infiltration(P0.05).Conclusion CD44s may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRS and be associated with the severity of CRS.