[Expression and the role of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in human nasal epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the expression and the role of hypoxic inducible factor-1alpha and VEGF induced by infection factor, inflammatory factor and hypoxia in primary human nasal epithelial cell (HNEC).

METHOD: Epithelial cells of nasal polyps (NP) and inferior turbinate (IT) were cultured without serum under stimulus of LPS10, 100, 1000 microg/L, IL-1beta 20 microg/L and hypoxia for 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, respectively. The expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein and mRNA derived from epithelial cells was detected by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization.

RESULT: 1) Under hypoxia, EPO mRNA was expressed intensely in epithelial cells from NP and IT, and there was no significant difference between both of them. This result suggested that EPO might be regarded as a hypoxic mark; 2) The expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF increased under the stimulus of infection factor, inflammatory factor and hypoxia with the increasing of time and concentration, especially in hypoxia (P<0.05); 3) The expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF expressed more intensively in epithelial cells from NP than IT under all conditions (P<0. 05); 4) There was positive correlation between the expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF (r=0.870, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Epithelial cells actively produce vast HIF-1alpha and VEGF under infection factor, inflammatory factor and hypoxia. HIF-1alpha and VEGF are involved in the formation of nasal polyps.