LATENT COLLAGENASE PRODUCTION BY CELLS DERIVED FROM NASAL POLYPS IN CULTURE

We investigated the interactions between nasal polyp-derived fibroblas t-like cells (NPFCs) and nasal secretions to clarify the role of conne ctive tissue metabolism in nasal and paranasal pathology, especially i n chronic sinusitis. In response to stimulation by human interleukin 1 (IL-1), NPFCs produced latent collagenase. Collagenase production was also stimulated by nasal secretions from patients with chronic sinusi tis in vitro, but not by nasal secretions from nasal allergic patients . A soluble factor was isolated from the nasal secretions of patients with chronic sinusitis by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G-75 gel chromatography. High performance liquid chromatography indica ted that the molecular weight of the active fraction was approximately 20,000 daltons. This factor affected NPFCs, but did not affect the en dothelial cells derived from nasal mucosa in culture. Collagenase prod uction by NPFCs was considerably inhibited by anti-IL-1 antibody. Thes e results indicate that IL-1 is one major factor to prolong the nasal and paranasal inflammatory lesions.