Objective: To evaluate the possible role of cytokines in pathophysiology and treatment of nasal polyps.
Method: The expressions of Th1-typed cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-12 and Th2-typed cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 were investigated with enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay(ELISA) in 25 patients with nasal polyps.
Result: There was a significant upregulation of Th2-typed cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 in nasal polyps compared with normal nasal mucosa, especially IL-4 and IL-5 (3.9 times and 8.8 times higher than normal mucous respectively) while the expression of Th1-typed cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-12 decreased after treated with local glucocorticoid. The levels of Th2-typed cytokines decreased significantly and Th1-typed cytokines had no obvious change.
Conclusion: The upregulation of Th2-typed cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 may play an important role in the pathophysiology of nasal polyps and Th2-typed cytokines can be viewed as a target of treatment to nasal polyps.