Superior turbinate eosinophilia correlates with olfactory deficit in chronic rhinosinusitis patients

Laryngoscope. 2017 Oct;127(10):2210-2218. doi: 10.1002/lary.26555. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate if molecular markers of eosinophilia in olfactory-enriched mucosa are associated with olfactory dysfunction.

Study design: Cross-sectional study of tissue biopsies from 99 patients, and an additional 30 patients who underwent prospective olfactory testing prior to sinonasal procedures.

Methods: Tissue biopsies were processed for analysis of inflammatory markers using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Ipsilateral olfactory performance was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart, Wedel, Germany) threshold component and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (Sensonics, Haddon Heights, NJ). Age-adjusted data was correlated with inflammatory marker expression and clinical measures of obstruction from computed tomography and endoscopy.

Results: Gene expression of the eosinophil marker CLC (Charcot Leyden crystal protein) was elevated in superior turbinate (ST) tissue in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) compared to ST and inferior turbinate tissue in CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and control patients (all P < 0.001, respectively). CLC in ST tissue was correlated with IL-5 and eotaxin-1 expression (all P < 0.001; P = 0.65, and 0.49, respectively). CLC expression was strongly correlated with eosinophilic cationic protein levels (P < 0.001; r = -0.76), and ST CLC expression was inversely related to olfactory threshold (P = 0.002, r = -0.57) and discrimination scores (P = 0.05, r = -0.42). In multiple linear regression of CLC gene expression, polyp status, and radiographic and endoscopic findings with olfactory threshold, CLC was the only significantly correlated variable (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Markers of eosinophils are elevated in the ST of patients with CRSwNP and correlate with olfactory loss. These findings support the hypothesis that olfactory dysfunction in CRS correlates local eosinophil influx into the olfactory cleft.

Level of evidence: NA. Laryngoscope, 127:2210-2218, 2017.

Keywords: Eosinophils; chronic rhinosinusitis; olfactory dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chemokine CCL11 / analysis
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / blood
  • Eosinophilia / blood
  • Eosinophilia / complications*
  • Eosinophilia / pathology
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-5 / analysis
  • Lysophospholipase / analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasal Polyps / blood
  • Nasal Polyps / complications
  • Nasal Polyps / pathology
  • Olfaction Disorders / etiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rhinitis / blood
  • Rhinitis / complications*
  • Rhinitis / pathology
  • Sinusitis / blood
  • Sinusitis / complications*
  • Sinusitis / pathology
  • Turbinates / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CCL11 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Glycoproteins
  • IL5 protein, human
  • Interleukin-5
  • Lysophospholipase
  • lysolecithin acylhydrolase
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein