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Updated: May 10, 2026

Investigating the Three-dimensional Flow Separation Induced by a Model Vocal Fold Polyp
Published on: February 3, 2014
Expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelia growth factor in vocal polyps
Rui Fang1, Jack J Jiang, Benjamin L Smith
1EENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Objectives/Hypothesis:
Long-term vocal overuse or sudden vocal-fold microvascular disruption may lead to the formation of a hypoxic zone of injury and the subsequent release of a cascade of cytokines in the vocal fold. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the expression and the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelia growth factor (VEGF) in the formation of vocal polyps.
Methods:
Expression patterns of HIF-1α and VEGF in surgical specimens of vocal polyps from 36 patients were analyzed using the immunohistochemistry and Western blot method. Normal vocal-fold mucosa from 26 patients who underwent total laryngectomy were collected and used as the control group.
Results:
The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF were detected both in the vocal polyps group and the control group, while the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF levels were significantly higher when compared to normal vocal-fold mucosa (P < .05).
Conclusion:
The increased expression of HIF-1α in vocal polyps indicates that vocal fold overvibration induced hypoxia may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanism of vocal polyps.
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