The Effect of Oral Steroid for the Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), Platelet-Derived Endothelial Cell Growth Factor (PD-ECGF) in Nasal Polyp / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Glucocorticoids are currently the most potent medication available for the treatment of nasal polyposis, but exact mechanisms are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) to oral corticosteroid in nasal polyps. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Oral steroid-untreated nasal polyps (n=10) and oral steroid-treated nasal polyps (n=13) (prednisolone 30 mg per day for 7 days) underwent nasal endoscopy and biopsy of the polyps. The mRNA expression of these factors were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression of these factors in nasal polyp tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The TNF-alpha mRNA and PD-ECGF mRNA expressions were significantly decreased in the oral steroid-treated nasal polyps when compared with the oral steroid-untreated nasal polyps, but TGF-beta1 mRNA was not significantly decreased. The immunohistochemical studies revealed that levels of expression for TNF-alpha protein and PD-ECGF protein in the oral steroid-treated nasal polyps were significantly decreased, but TGF-beta1 protein was not decreased when compared with oral steroid-untreated nasal polyps. CONCLUSION: We suggest that oral corticosteroids may exert a beneficial effect by significantly reducing the levels of TNF-alpha and PD-ECGF in nasal polyps.