Eotaxin synthesis by nasal polyp fibroblasts

Nasal polyps is a chronic inflammatory disease of the upper airway characte rized by structural;abnormalities including stromal fibrosis. Fibroblasts a re a rich soul cr of cytokines and inflammatory mediators and are thought t o play an important role in the development of fibrosis. In addition. there is considerable evidence for the participation of eosinophils in the patho physiology of nasal polyps. Although increased numbers of eosinophils are p resent in nasal polyps, the mechanisms responsible for their selective accu mulation are not completely clear. Eotaxin is a chemokine that promotes the selective recruitment of eosinophils. Thus, it may be an important molecul e for the recruitment of eosinophils in nasal polyps. The purpose of this s tudy was to investigate whether nasal polyp fibroblasts synthesize eotaxin after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha. Using pr imary nasal polyp tissue-derived fibroblast lines, we demonstrated that LPS . IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha induced the gent expression and protein productio n of cotaxin in nasal polyp fibroblasts. This responsiveness to LPS. IL-1 b eta and TNF-alpha was time- and dose-dependent. These findings support the hypothesis that fibroblasts could play an important role in the recruitment of eosinophils in nasal polyps through the production of eotaxin.