Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 18, 2014
RAGE processing in chronic airway conditions: involvement of Staphylococcus aureus and ECP
Koen Van Crombruggen1, Gabriele Holtappels, Natalie De Ruyck
1Upper Airway Research Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. koen.vancrombruggen@ugent.be
Background:
The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor that exists as a membrane-bound (mRAGE) form and a soluble (sRAGE) form. RAGE is reported to play a role in diverse pathologies including lower airway conditions, but the exact mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In the upper airways, the involvement of RAGE remains completely unexplored.
Objective:
To investigate the involvement of RAGE in the human upper airway conditions chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
Methods:
Protein levels of sRAGE, mRAGE, IL-5, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were quantitatively assessed in inflamed tissue of CRSsNP and CRSwNP patients. Nasal tissue of subjects without disease served as control. Ex vivo human sinonasal tissue stimulation assays were used to assess the effect of Staphylococcus aureus and ECP on sRAGE processing.
Results:
sRAGE protein levels were higher in CRSsNP tissue, whereas mRAGE protein levels were lower than in controls. In CRSwNP patients, both tissue sRAGE and mRAGE protein levels were reduced. Low tissue sRAGE protein concentrations were associated with high IL-5 and ECP protein levels. In vitro, S aureus induced the release of sRAGE from the tissue, while ECP was shown to be implicated in the breakdown of free sRAGE.
Conclusions:
We demonstrate for the first time that RAGE protein is highly expressed in human upper airways under normal physiology and that it is subject to differential processing in CRSsNP and CRSwNP, identifying S aureus and ECP as novel and crucial players in this process.
More Related Videos
06:43Studying Microbial Communities In Vivo: A Model of Host-mediated Interaction Between Candida Albicans and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in the Airways
Published on: January 13, 2016
03:53Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes
Published on: April 19, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Pneumonia I: Introduction