Optimizing Human Nasal Turbinate Stem Cell Dosage for the Effective Treatment of Empty Nose Syndrome

Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is a chronic and debilitating condition characterized by atrophic nasal mucosa and impaired mucosal function, resulting in persistent nasal discomfort and breathing difficulties. Despite various surgical and medical interventions, an effective treatment remains elusive. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a human nasal turbinate stem cell (hNTSC)-based therapeutic agent for ENS.

ENS was induced in a rabbit model via electrocautery, and varying concentrations of hNTSC-based spheroids combined with collagen hydrogel were administered (n=3 per group). Histological and mRNA expression analyses were performed one month posttreatment to assess epithelial thickness and FOXJ1 expression levels.

Histological analysis revealed that hNTSC treatment significantly increased epithelial thickness, with the most pronounced effect observed in the medium-dose group (1×107 cells/mL, 50 μL). mRNA analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in FOXJ1 expression, with the highest levels observed in the high-dose group. However, this did not correlate with superior histological recovery, suggesting that epithelial remodeling is optimal at specific cell concentrations.

These findings demonstrate that hNTSC-based therapy effectively promotes epithelial regeneration in ENS, with an optimal therapeutic dose identified at 1×107 cells/mL. This study highlights the potential clinical application of stem cell therapy for ENS and underscores the need for precise dose optimization to maximize therapeutic outcomes.