The Role of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition in otorhinolaryngology. It is characterized by chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity and the sinus mucosa. However, its specific pathogenesis remains unclear. Epithelial dysfunction is closely related to inflammatory airway diseases. Various evidences support that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the development of CRS. Objective: The study aimed to explore our understanding of how EMT contributes to the pathogenesis of CRS and to examine the role of several signaling pathways in EMT. Methods: PubMed database was used to review the literature related to EMT in CRS pathogenesis. The following key words were used for the search strategy: CRS, sinusitis, nasal polyps, epithelial cells, EMT, dysfunction, cytokines, signaling pathways, pathogenesis, and therapy. Results: EMT is widely present in the nasal mucosa of CRSwNP patients and contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease. However, there is no sufficient evidence for the existence of EMT in CRSsNP. Multiple signaling pathways and molecules, such as transforming growth factor-β signaling, Wnt signaling, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α signaling, have been found to be involved in the EMT process and promote CRSwNP. Conclusion: EMT is closely associated with CRS pathogenesis. Our study supports further research on epithelial EMT changes in CRS patients and provides a basis for revealing its pathogenesis and exploring new treatments.