Dysregulated survivin expression in nasal polyps of individuals with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A derailed balance of cell proliferation and apoptosis is presumed to result in cell hyperplasia as a typical feature of nasal polyps. Survivin, a protein of the inhibitors of the apoptosis family is proposed to promote polyp formation. However, studies concerning survivin expression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps are rare and the specificity of the survivin expression in nasal polyps from individuals with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) has not been investigated.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemical survivin expression analysis was performed. Samples were taken from the ethmoid sinus of individuals with CRS with nasal polyps with and without AERD during sinus surgery and control specimens of the inferior turbinate from individuals without CRS. Cell cultures were stimulated with recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) and the resulting survivin expression was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS:

The survivin expression of 61 specimens was analyzed by quantitative immunohistochemistry and a potential VEGF-dependant stimulation of survivin in cell cultures was investigated. The survivin expression in nasal polyps from individuals with AERD was increased compared with the controls (median, 1194 versus 927 arbitrary units [A.U.]; p = 0.054). Western blot analysis revealed in vitro a VEGF-dependant regulation of survivin in nasal polyps from individuals without AERD, but not in those with AERD (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Enhanced survivin expression might result in decreased apoptosis and cellular hyperplasia as a part of the largely unknown pathophysiology of nasal polyp formation. Furthermore, we hypothesize a pathological, VEGF-independent constitutive survivin expression in nasal polyps of individuals with AERD.

• Authors: Kai Fruth, Eduard Schramek, Dominic Docter, Boris R Haxel, Astrid Schneider, Wolf J Mann, Juergen Brieger
• Journal: American journal of rhinology & allergy (Am J Rhinol Allergy) 2012 Sep-Oct Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 380-4 ISSN: 1945-8932 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23168152 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• BIRC5 protein, human
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
• Survivin
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Aspirin

Topics

• Adult
• Apoptosis
• Aspirin (adverse effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Chronic Disease
• Disease Progression
• Drug Hypersensitivity (metabolism)
• Ethmoid Sinus (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Polyps (metabolism)
• Rhinitis (metabolism)
• Sinusitis (metabolism)
• Survivin
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (metabolism)
• Young Adult