[The secretion of chemokine RANTES in epithelial cells of nasal polyps and its significance].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of RANTES(regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) on chemotaxis, migration and accumulation of eosinophils in nasal polyps during epithelial immune responses.

METHODS

The epithelial cells were obtained from nasal polyps and inferior turbinates in patients with snoring, and cultured for 24 and 48 hours with IL-1 beta(25 micrograms/L, 50 micrograms/L). RANTES was measured in the culture supernatant by ELISA.

RESULTS

1. On incubation with IL-1 beta, the epithelial cells from inferior turbinate and nasal polyps released 1.5-10 fold and 10-20 fold greater amounts of RANTES respectively than unstimulated samples. Significant increase in levels of RANTES was found in both groups(P < 0.001); 2. There was no difference between nasal polyp and inferior turbinate before incubation with IL-1 beta(P > 0.05) in the level of RANTES. After IL-1 beta stimulation, the concentration of RANTES was higher in polyp than in inferior turbinate (P < 0.001); 3. The expression of RANTES in both groups was dose-dependent and time-dependent upon stimulation of IL-1 beta.

CONCLUSION

The epithelial cells of nasal mucosa are active end-organs, capable of releasing chemokine RANTES. In nasal polyps, RANTES has chemotactic activity for eosinophils and other inflammatory cells. It could affect the chemotaxis and eosinophil function and may play an important role in polyp formation.