Abstract: Objective · To further explore the role of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway in the tissue remodeling process of cultured nasal polyps in vitro. Methods · Fifteen cases of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and 15 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) were screened out, and the control group was 10 patients with deviation of nasal septum. The location and of proteins in tissues were analyzedimmunohistochemistry. The and distribution of collagen were detectedusing the method of Masson trichrome staining. The levels of mRNA and protein were detectedquantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively. Nasal polyps were treated ex vivoTGF-β1 (n15). The levels of mRNA and protein in culture pellets and collagen in culture supernatant were analyzedqRT-PCR, Western blotting and ELISA respectively. Results · The TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in the CRSwNP group compared with the CRSsNP group (all P<0.05). TGF-β1 and pSmad2/3 protein level showed positive correlation in CRS (r0.991, P<0.01), so was TGF-β1 and Smad2, Smad3 mRNA levels (r0.581, r0.658, both P<0.01). TGF-β1 had positive correlation with collagen in CRS (r0.982, P<0.01). Compared with the controls ex vivo, the levels of Smad2, Smad3, pSmad2/3 and collagen were markedly increased after TGF-β1 treatment. Conclusion · TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway may play an important role in tissue remodeling of CRSwNP, and cacollagen reduction and edematous mucous membrane in nasal polyps.

Key words: chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, transforming growth factor-&beta;1 (TGF-&beta;1), phospho-Smad2/3 (pSmad2/3), tissue remodeling