Expression of gap junctional protein connexins and signaling in human nasal epithelium

• Project/Area Number: 16591719
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: HAMA Takemitsu Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Assistant, 医学研究科, 助手 (90315953)
• Project Period (FY): 2004 – 2005
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2005)
• Budget Amount: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000); Fiscal Year 2005: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000); Fiscal Year 2004: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
• Keywords: nasal mucosa / epithelial cell / gap junction / シグナル伝達

Research Abstract

The purpose of this study is whether expression of gap junctional protein connexins (Cxs) changes in nasal mucosal tissue of various nasal disease. We performed immunohistochemical observation of Cx26 and 43 with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and compared with the expression of Cxs in nasal polyp (inflammation), inverted papilloma (benign tumor), and squamous cell carcinoma (scc)(malignant tumor).
In nasal polyp and papilloma, the expression of Cxs showed the same pattern as in the nasal normal mucosa. Small immunolabeled spots for Cx26 were present in the layer of epithelial cells, and immunolabeled spots for Cx43 were observed in the layer of stromal cells and lamina propria. However, in scc, spots for Cx26 and Cx43 were decreasing, and were almost no present in some cases. In this study, we clarified for the first time the changes of Cxs in the nasal mucosal tissue with malignant change.