The effects of TGFalpha in intractable sinusitis and new treatment

嗜酸性慢性鼻窦炎(ECRS)被认为是一种难治性疾病，具有粘液稠密、长期鼻塞、嗅觉丧失等特点。在本研究中，我们探讨了哪些生长因子与ECRS中粘蛋白的过度产生密切相关，发现ECRS患者粘膜下组织中的转化生长因子-α免疫反应活性明显高于正常患者和非嗜酸性CRS患者。转化生长因子-α与肿瘤坏死因子-α通过ERK信号通路协同上调人上皮细胞MUC5AC的表达。结果表明，转化生长因子-α在ECRS患者的上呼吸道高表达，并与粘液高分泌密切相关。

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) is considered a refractory and intractable disease with thick mucus production, long-term nasal congestion, loss of sense of smell. In this study, we investigated which growth factor is deeply involved in the mucin overproduction in ECRS.TGF-alpha immunoreactivity was found markedly increased in the submucosal tissue in the ECRS patient compared with that of a normal patient and with noneosinophilic CRS. TGF-alpha synergized with TNF-alpha to upregulate MUC5AC expression in human epithelial cells through the ERK signaling pathway.Our results demonstrated that TGF-alpha was highly expressed in the upper airway tract in ECRS patients and is deeply involved in mucus hypersecretion.