The role of epithelial cells in the formation and development of nasal polyps

Abstract

Nasal polyps, as a subtype of chronic sinusitis, is prone to clinical recurrence and seriously affects the quality of life of patients, but its pathogenesis is unclear. It is considered to be a chronic inflammation of the nasal-sinus mucosa under the combined action of multiple factors. Among them, nasal mucosal epithelial injury and shedding are the main pathological features. Nasal-sinus epithelial separated nasal sinuses with the outside world, is the complex natural biological barrier to resist external stimuli and the key to maintaining homeostasis in the nasal sinuses. At present, the epithelium is considered not only as a "target organ" but also as an "effector" and a central regulator of the inflammatory response. This paper reviews the role of epithelial cells in the formation and development of nasal polyps, including the epithelial cell layer were stimulated not only leads to tissue remodeling, changes in mucociliary clearance, abnormal ion channels, and proliferation and apoptosis imbalance, but also produce a series of bioactive substances in response to various internal and external stimuli.Therefore, maintaining the integrity of the structure and function of airway mucosal epithelial cells may be a new approach for clinical prevention and treatment of nasal polyps.