Objective: To study the local protective role of lysozyme(LZ) and lactoferrin(LF) in the uncinate process mucosa during chronic sinusitis.
Methods: Expression of LZ and LF was determined in 17 samples from normal subjects and 70 samples from chronic sinusitis patients with ABC immunohistochemical method. According to the presence or absence of nasal polyps, patients were divided into two groups.
Results: Serous cells of submucosal glands displayed a strongly positive staining reaction to both LZ and LF in the normal uncinate process mucosa and mucosa from patients with chronic sinusitis. A positive though weak staining for LZ could also be found frequently within mucous cells of submucosal mixed glands and occasionally within goblet cells. In the mucosa from patients without nasal polyps, the staining reaction to LZ appeared to be intensified in goblet cells when compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). In patients with nasal polyps, the staining reaction to LZ appeared to be intensified in submucosal glands when compared with normal controls (P < 0.01) and patients without nasal polyps (P < 0.05). For LF, the staining reaction from patients with nasal polyps was stronger than that in normal controls (P < 0.01). The epithial cells stained negatively for LZ and LF.
Conclusions: It suggests that the observed increase in LZ and LF secreting activity of goblet cells and submucosal mixed glands may play a part role in the defense mechanism of uncinate process mucosa during the course of chronic sinusitis.