Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and accumulation of eosinophils in nasal polyp tissue.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and the accumulation of eosinophils in nasal polyp tissue to better understand the mechanism of airway eosinophilic inflammation.

METHODS

The expression of ICAM-1 and its natural ligand, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), in normal nasal mucosa from 6 controls and in nasal polyp tissue from 19 patients with nasal polyposis were determined with immunohistochemistry. With dual immunohistochemistry and May-Griünwald Giemsa stain (MGG), the expression of LFA-1 and infiltrating eosinophils in nasal polyp tissue was observed.

RESULTS

The expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 was stronger in the nasal polyp tissue than in normal nasal mucosa. There was a positive relationship between the infiltration of eosinophils and the expression of LFA-1 on eosinophils.

CONCLUSION

Accumulation of eosinophils in nasal polyp tissue is associated with the counter-effect between adhesion molecules and its ligand on eosinophils.