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Published on: August 18, 2014
Olfactory mucosal inflammation and barrier disruption correlate with perceived CRSwNP-associated olfactory
Linghui Meng1,2, Shengyang Liu1,2, Peng Yu1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
The World Allergy Organization Journal
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is linked to a heightened inflammatory response in the olfactory mucosa. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) strongly correlates with smell loss severity in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pathology
Background:
- Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) frequently causes olfactory dysfunction.
- The precise local mechanisms driving olfactory loss in CRSwNP remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inflammatory and histopathological characteristics of the olfactory mucosa (OM) in CRSwNP patients.
- To correlate these local changes with the severity of olfactory dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Olfactory mucosa specimens were obtained from CRSwNP patients and controls.
- Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining were employed.
- Clinical symptoms were assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22).
Main Results:
- CRSwNP olfactory mucosa exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-5, IL-13, CCL11) compared to controls.
- Severe smell loss was associated with type 2 inflammation, eosinophilia, and increased IL-5, CLC, and CCL11.
- Histological analysis revealed reduced olfactory sensory neurons and tight junction proteins, alongside increased inflammatory cell infiltration.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory dysfunction in CRSwNP is associated with a local inflammatory microenvironment in the OM.
- Type 2/eosinophilic inflammation, epithelial changes, and immune cell infiltration characterize the OM in these patients.
- IL-5, CLC, and CCL11 are potential biomarkers for olfactory dysfunction severity in CRSwNP.
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