Quantitative analysis of mucin and lectin in maxillary sinus fluids in patients with acute and chronic sinusitis

Objectives: Sinusitis is characterized by quantitative and qualitative chan ges in mucus biosynthesis that contribute to sinus disease. In general, pat ients with acute sinusitis complain of purulent rhinorrhea, whereas those w ith chronic sinusitis complain of mucoid or mucopurulent rhinorrhea. Locall y produced mucin largely contributes to the high viscoelasticity of mucus i n sinusitis. In this study, the authors attempt to quantify the concentrati ons of mucin and lectin in the maxillary sinus fluids from these patients S tudy Design: To assess the concentrations of mucin and lectin in aspirates of 11 acutely and 11 chronically inflamed maxillary sinuses, the concentrat ion of mucin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and that of lectin by sandwiched enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA). Results: Th e concentrations of mucin and lectin that were measured using monoclonal an tibodies (HCS 4, HCS 14, and HCS 18) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1 ) in chronic sinusitis were higher than those in acute sinusitis. The conce ntration of total protein in chronic sinusitis was lower than that in acute sinusitis. Each mucin and lectin versus total protein ratio in chronic sin usitis was higher than that in acute sinusitis. Conclusions: These data sug gest that hypersecretion in chronic sinusitis may result from locally incre ased mucin production. Comprehension of this mechanism may be a strategy to prevent the viscous cycle of paranasal sinus fluids in chronic sinusitis.