Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanovesicles of endocytic origin released by cells and found in human bodily fluids. EVs contain both mRNA and microRNA (miRNA), which can be shuttled between cells, indicating their role in cell communication. This study investigated whether nasal secretions contain EVs and whether these EVs contain RNA. EVs were isolated from nasal lavage fluid (NLF) using sequential centrifugation. EVs were characterized and EV sizes were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, EV miRNA expression was different in the chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyp (CRSsNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) groups. The Kyoto encyclopedia gene and genome database (KEGG) database was used to identify pathways associated with changed miRNAs in each analysis group. Twelve miRNAs were differentially expressed in NLF-EVs of CRS patients versus HCs. In addition, eight miRNAs were differentially expressed in NLF-EVs of CRSwNP versus CRSsNP patients. The mucin-type O-glycan biosynthesis was a high-ranked predicted pathway in CRS patients versus healthy controls (HCs), and the Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway was a high-ranked predicted pathway in CRSwNP versus CRSsNP patients. We demonstrated the presence of and differences in NLF-EV miRNAs between CRS patients and HCs. These findings open up a broad and novel area of research on CRS pathophysiology as driven by miRNA cell communication.
Highlights
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa
There were no significant differences between CRS patients and healthy controls (HCs) with respect to the mean age, sex, prevalence of asthma, environmental allergies, and JESREC score [6]
The presence of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) samples was investigated according to previous studies and the guidelines of the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles [8]
Summary
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa. Chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are two different CRS phenotypes. Advances in our understanding of CRS pathophysiology have led to adoption of the endotype paradigm of disease characterization. The main goal of CRS research is to understand its etiopathology and significant prognostic information for personalized CRS treatment. Identifying pathways that allow CRS to be expressed is fundamental to improving preventative strategies, developing diagnostic tools, and designing therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), or exosomes, are present in most bodily fluids, including the nasal mucus [1], and their composition differs by cellular origin.
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