Microarray analysis of NF-κB-dependent genes in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

The inflammatory process underlying nasal polyposis is induced and perpetuated by the enhanced activity of several agents including transcription factors. It has recently been demonstrated that one of them, named nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), is implicated in the regulation of multiple pro-inflammatory genes.

The aim of the study was to identify using microarray technology which NF-κB-dependent genes are activated in nasal polyp (NP) samples compared to the control mucosa.

The transcriptional activity of genes was analyzed using an oligonucleotide microarray on 15 NPs and 8 cases of normal nasal mucosa.

Gene expression patterns obtained in NPs were significantly different from those in normal mucosa. NPs and control cases clustered separately, each of them with large homogeneity in gene expression. Among 582 human NF-κB-dependent genes 25 showed a significantly higher expression in NPs compared to the control. The largest increase focused on gene encoding TFF3 (a 5-fold higher expression) followed by NOS2A (5x), SERPINA1 (4x), UCP2 (4x), OXTR (4x) and IL8 (3x) (p<0.05). In healthy mucosa 19 genes presented increased transcription activity compared to NPs. The most significantly enhanced levels were shown LTF gene (20 fold) followed by KRT6B (7x), LYZ (7x), SD11B2 (5x) and MMP3 (4x) (p<0.05).

DNA microarray technology highlights the involvement of many unsuspected pathologic pathways which could be involved in NP growth. The identification of novel disease-related genes may help to understand the biology of NPs and elaborate new targeted therapy.