Increased expression of the epithelial anion transporter pendrin/SLC26A4 in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Sudarshan Seshadri, Xiang Lu, Matthew R. Purkey, Tetsuya Homma, Andrew Wonho Choi, Roderick Carter, Lydia Suh, James Norton, Kathleen E. Harris, David B. Conley, Atsushi Kato, Pedro C. Avila, Barbara Czarnocka, Peter A. Kopp, Anju T. Peters, Leslie C. Grammer, Rakesh K. Chandra, Bruce K. Tan, Zheng Liu, Robert C. KernRobert P. Schleimer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multifactorial disease of unknown cause characterized by sinonasal inflammation, increased mucus production, and defective mucociliary clearance. Expression of Pendrin, an epithelial anion transporter, is increased in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pendrin increases mucus production and regulates mucociliary clearance. Objectives We sought to investigate the expression of pendrin and the mucus-related protein Muc5AC in sinonasal tissues of control subjects and patients with CRS and to evaluate the regulation of pendrin expression in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) in vitro. Methods The expression and distribution of pendrin in sinonasal tissues was analyzed by using real-time PCR, immunoblot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Differentiated NECs were used to study the regulation of pendrin expression. Results Increased pendrin expression was observed in nasal polyp (NP) tissue of patients with CRS. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that pendrin was largely restricted to the epithelial layer. Pendrin expression significantly correlated with inflammatory cell markers, suggesting that the factors made by these cells might induce pendrin expression. Furthermore, both pendrin and periostin levels (a biomarker in asthma) correlated with IL-13 levels, suggesting that pendrin can be induced by this cytokine in sinonasal tissues. Expression of the mucus component protein Muc5AC correlated weakly with pendrin expression, indicating that pendrin might modulate mucus production in NPs. In cultured NECs pendrin expression was induced by TH2 cytokines and induced synergistically when TH2 cytokines were combined with IL-17A. Interestingly, human rhinovirus had a potentiating effect on IL-13-induced pendrin expression. Dexamethasone suppressed pendrin expression, suggesting that the therapeutic benefit of dexamethasone in asthmatic patients and those with CRS might involve regulation of pendrin expression. Conclusions TH2-mediated pendrin expression is increased in NPs of patients with CRS and might lead to increased inflammation, mucus production, and decreased mucociliary clearance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1548-1558.e7
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume136
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015

Keywords

  • Muc5AC
  • Pendrin
  • SLC26A4
  • chronic rhinosinusitis
  • mucociliary clearance
  • mucus
  • nasal epithelial cells
  • nasal polyp
  • periostin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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