[The protein expression of Bcl-x1 and Bcl-2 in eosinophils in nasal polyps and the influence of beclomethasone dipropionate on the expression].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-x long(Bcl-x1) in eosinophils in nasal polyps and the influence of beclomethasone dipropionate on the expression.

METHODS

Using May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) method and immunohistochemical method, the protein expression of Bcl-x1 and Bcl-2 in eosinophils in nasal polyps from patients treated with beclomethasone dipropionate treatment and patients without any treatment was compared.

RESULTS

(1) Nasal polyp tissues from patients without treatment had more eosinophils than those from patients with treatment(P < 0.01). (2) No protein expression of Bcl-2 was observed in all 52 patients. (3) 20.0% patients with treatment had the expression of Bcl-x1, whereas 48.1% patients without treatment had the expression. The difference between these two groups was significant(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that Bcl-x1 may act as an anti-apoptotic molecule in eosinophils and corticosteroids induce eosinophil apoptosis through suppressing the expression of Bcl-x1.