Electrophysiological properties of nasal polyp and paranasal sinus mucosa

Abstract

Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus have various functions. However, there is little information about ion transport characteristics in these upper air way epithelia. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the phenotype of ion transport in human nasal polyp (NP) and paranasal sinus mucosa (PSM) with or without bronchial asthma. NP and PSM tissues were obtained by endoscopic sinus surgery. Epithelial cells prepared from NP and PSM tissues were seeded on collagen coated dishes and cultured in bronchial epithelial growth media. Then, the cells were reseeded on culture inserts, and cultured in air liquid surface media. After culturing about 2 weeks, we mounted the cells into a modified Ussing chamber to characterize ion transport properties by measuring the short circuit current (ISC). The basal ISC of NP was mostly composed of the benzamil-sensitive Na+ absorption which was larger than that of PSN. This suggests that NP behaves as a Na+ absorbing tissue. The comparative study of the ion transport properties in NP with or without bronchial asthma showed that the benzamil-sensitive Isc in NP with bronchial asthma was much lower than that in NP without bronchial asthma. This result means that bronchial asthma makes the human nasal epithelium more secretory by inhibiting the Na+ absorption. Supported by JSPS 15659052 (YM), 15590189 (NN), 15790120 (HM). [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S86 (2004)]