Mechanism of neutrophil recruitment induced by IL-8 in chronic sinusitis

The mechanism of neutrophil recruitment in patients with chronic sinusitis is unclear.

This study aims to elucidate the role of IL-8 in inducing neutrophil accumulation in the nasal discharge of patients with chronic sinusitis.

Nasal discharge and mucosal specimens were obtained from two groups of patients, those with chronic sinusitis and those with allergic rhinitis. The samples were subjected to immunohistochemical examination and in situ hybridization. The IL-8 level in the nasal discharge was measured by enzyme immunoassay.

Immunoreactivity to IL-8 was observed in polymorphonuclear cells of nasal smear, in nasal gland duct cells, and in epithelial cells of the chronic sinusitis group; whereas those of the allergic rhinitis group mostly showed little or no reaction. Similar patterns of localization were shown by in situ hybridization for IL-8 messenger RNA. The IL-8 level in nasal discharge was significantly higher in the chronic sinusitis group than in the allergic rhinitis group.

These results suggest that chemotactic factors in sinus effusion, including IL-8 derived from nasal gland duct cells and epithelial cells, attract neutrophils out of mucosa, and the neutrophils that have emigrated into the sinus effusion secrete IL-8. This induces further neutrophil accumulation in the sinus effusion of patients with chronic sinusitis.