Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and some parameters of extracellular matrix remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Objective. The purpose of our study was to evaluate vimentin expression in nasal polyp tissue, concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in blood serum of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).Materials and methods. Levels of MMP-9 and MCP-1 were determined in blood serum of twenty patients with CRSwNP using the commercially produced ELISA kits. Immunohistochemical vimentin staining using specimens of nasal polyp tissue was performed. The results were compared to the control group consisted of twenty relatively healthy subjects.Results. Vimentin was found to be strongly expressed in both the lamina propria and epithelial cells in nasal polyp tissue of patients with CRSwNP. Blood serum concentrations of MMP-9 and MCP-1 were higher in CRSwNP compared to the control individuals. MCP-1/MMP-9 ratio was higher as well. Conclusion. The development of nasal polyps is accompanied by an increase in the amount of vimentin-positive cells in the epithelial layer, which indicates the activation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CRSwNP is associated with the imbalance between profibrotic and antifibrotic factors.