Eicosanoids from biopsy of normal and polypous nasal mucosa

In order to clarify the influence of inflammatory mediators of the arachidonic acid cascade in the mechanism of nasal polyp growth, peptido-leukotriene (pLT), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) synthesis was investigated. In addition to several stimuli, functionally intact human biopsy specimens of polypous and normal tissue were incubated. Especially remarkable was the significantly increased release of pLT by polypous tissue upon arachidonic acid stimulation, in contrast to only slightly elevated PGE2 release compared to normal tissue. Basic release of pLT and PGE2 was similar for polypous and normal tissue. Examining TXB2 release, no significant difference was observed with regard to the origin of tissues. These data support an altered pattern of the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways when tissue becomes irritated and suggest their involvement in the aetiopathogenesis of nasal polyps.