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Upregulation of COX-1 and COX-2 in nasal polyps in cystic fibrosis

¹ Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
² Unidad de Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
³ Servei d’Otorrinolaringologia, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
⁴ Servei d’Otorrinolaringologia, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
⁵ Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Clínic, Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr C Picado
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; cpicado{at}ub.edu

Background: Since abnormalities in prostanoid metabolism occur in the lower airway of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), it is likely that they could also be detected in the nose.

Methods: The degree of mRNA and protein expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes 1 (COX-1) and 2 (COX-2) was examined using quantitative reverse competitive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis in the nasal polyps from 10 patients with CF, nasal polyps from 10 non-CF patients and 11 nasal mucosa specimens. The results are presented as 10⁶ cDNA molecules/µg total RNA and the densitometric ratio between protein and ß-actin.

Results: COX-1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in CF nasal polyps (median 2.34, 25–75th percentiles 1.6–3.2) than in the nasal mucosa (0.78, 0.11–1.21), while there was no difference with non-CF nasal polyps (1.11, 0.80–3.15). COX-1 protein levels were significantly higher in CF nasal polyps (3.63, 2.71–4.27) than in nasal mucosa (1.55, 0.66–2.33) and non-CF nasal polyps (2.19, 1.72–3.68). COX-2 mRNA was significantly higher in CF nasal polyps (3.34, 2.42–7.05) than in nasal mucosa (1.69, 0.19–3.50). No differences were found in COX-2 mRNA expression between CF and non-CF polyps (1.38, 0.12–6.07). COX-2 protein levels were also significantly higher in CF nasal polyps (0.23, 0.04–0.34) than in non-CF nasal polyps (0.011, 0.009–0.016) or nasal mucosa (0.014, 0.014–0.016).

Conclusions: Upregulation in the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 could explain the high production of prostanoids reported in CF. These findings raise questions regarding the potential use of selective or non-selective COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment in CF.

Abbreviations: BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; CF, cystic fibrosis; IL, interleukin; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PG, prostaglandin; TNF-, tumour necrosis factor

Keywords: cystic fibrosis; nasal polyp; cyclo-oxygenase; COX-1; COX-2

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				J. M. Owens, K. R. Shroyer, and T. T. Kingdom Expression of Cyclooxygenase and Lipoxygenase Enzymes in Sinonasal Mucosa of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, August 1, 2008; 134(8): 825 - 831. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Clayton and A J Knox COX-2: a link between airway inflammation and disordered chloride secretion in cystic fibrosis? Thorax, July 1, 2006; 61(7): 552 - 553. [Full Text] [PDF]