Aberrant expression of Bcl2L12 as a potential biomarker for predicting recurrence in nasal polyp.

OBJECTIVE

Bcl2L12 plays an important role in the inflammatory response, but its role in chronic rhinitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of Bcl2L12 with eosinophilic inflammation in CRSwNP and its value in predicting postoperative recurrence.

METHODS

We included 80 patients with CRSwNP treated with Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), and 40 Health Control (HC) subjects. The expression levels of Bcl2L12 in tissues were examined by RT-PCR, Western Blotting (WB) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the expression level of Bcl2L12 and eosinophilic inflammation of the disease. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were used to assess the relationship between Bcl2L12 levels and postoperative recurrence.

RESULTS

RT-PCR results suggested that tissue Bcl2L12 levels were higher in the relapse CRSwNP group than in the control and primary CRSwNP group. Correlation analysis showed that elevated Bcl2L12 levels were positively correlated with disease eosinophilic inflammation (p < 0.05). In addition, tissue Bcl2L12 levels were higher by WB and IHC in the CRSwNP group than in the HC group (p < 0.05), especially in the recurrent group, and were centrally expressed in the epithelial region of the mucosa. Further regression analysis showed that blood eosinophil count and percentage, tissue eosinophil count, and tissue Bcl2L12 levels were closely associated with disease recurrence after surgery. The ROC curve suggested that tissue Bcl2L12 had a higher value in predicting postoperative recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that Bcl2L12 is increased in patients with CRSwNP, and is associated with eosinophilic inflammation. Tissue Bcl2L12 levels may be an objective marker to predict the risk of postoperative recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.