[Expression of STAT6 in human nasal polyps and the relation between STAT6 and eosinophil infiltration]

To study the distribution and expression of STAT6 and to examine the suggested roles of STAT6 in the pathogenesis of eosinophil infiltration in nasal polyps and to evaluate the role of STAT6 in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps.

All selected cases met the enrollment criteria. Thirty samples of nasal polyps were obtained from patients undergoing nasal polypectomy, and 10 samples of inferior turbinate tissues were from patients undergoing nasal septal reconstruction. STAT6 in nasal polyp tissues from 30 nasal polyposis patients and 10 samples of inferior turbinate tissues were detected with immunohistochemistry (SP) method. SPSS13.0 system was used to perform the statistical analysis.

The positive expression of STAT6 was significantly higher in epithelium of nasal polyps than that of the control. The number of eosinophils was significantly higher in epithelium of nasal polyps than that of the control. The difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). STAT6 positive cell were localized on epithelium, gland cells and on inflammatory cell of nasal polyps. STAT6 expression was positively correlated with the recruitment of eosinophils in nasal polyps.

The high expression of STAT6 protein and the suggested roles of STAT6 in the recruitment of eosinophils in nasal polyps may contribute to the initiation and progression of nasal polyps.