Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in nasal polyps and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor and inducible nitric oxide synthase / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression and distribution of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in nasal polyps, to explore the relationship of HIF-1alpha with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and to investigate the role of HIF-1alpha in the pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the techniques of immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the expressions of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, iNOS protein and HIF-1alpha mRNA were examined. The specimens were obtained from patients underwent SMR surgery during the same period, including thirty-one nasal polyps and ten inferior turbinate tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to immunohistochemical research, the expressions of HIF-1alpha, VEGF and iNOS were higher in nasal polyps than those in inferior turbinate tissue (P < 0.01); The result of RT-PCR showed that there was no significant difference between the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA in nasal polyps and inferior turbinate tissues (P > 0.05); No correlation was found between the expression of HIF-1alpha and the clinical stages of nasal polyps (F = 0.42, P > 0.05); There was a positive correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha and that of VEGF (r = 0.630, P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the expression of HIF-1alpha and that of Inos (r = 0.144, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although the mRNA level of HIF-1alpha did not change much, the expression of its protein was significantly higher in nasal polyps than in inferior turbinate tissues. There was no correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha and the clinical stages. A positive correlation was found between HIF-1alpha and VEGF, but no correlation was detected between the HIF-1alpha and iNOS. In conclusion, our study indicates that hypoxia may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps.</p>