Health
Weakened nasal immune system linked to chronic sinusitis
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 2, 2006
Two proteins vital to the immune response of the nose are low in patients with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps who do not respond to usual treatment, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery last month in Toronto.
Researchers analyzed the epithelial cells from 16 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and compared them to those from five healthy controls. Those with the condition had low levels of human beta-defensin 2 and mannose-binding lectin, two proteins crucial to mounting an effective immune system response. The authors suggest that manipulating these proteins may lead to more effective treatment.
"Colonization with microorganisms is a common problem in patients with chronic sinusitis and polyps, but the reasons for this are incompletely understood," said Andrew Lane, MD, senior author and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "Now we are uncovering new clues as to what might be wrong and perhaps ultimately how it might be treated."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/10/02/hlbf1002.htm.
