REDUCED SIALYLATION OF GLYCOPROTEINS IN NASAL GLANDS OF PATIENTS WITHCHRONIC SINUSITIS

This study was conducted to investigate the sialylations of glycoprote ins in the nasal glands of patients with chronic sinusitis. Sialic aci ds were detected using lectin histochemistry, and the mRNA of sialyltr ansferase was evaluated by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Sambu cus nigra agglutinin (SNA), which recognizes terminal sialic acids, st rongly stained the glandular mucous cells of normal subjects, but not those of patients with chronic sinusitis. in situ hybridization histoc hemistry showed that the expression of alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase mRN A was decreased in the secretory cells of patients with chronic sinusi tis. Our present results suggest that a reduction in sialyltransferase activity at the mRNA level in the nasal glands may lead to the persis tence of chronic sinusitis.