Reduced Sialylation of Glycoproteins in Nasal Glands of Patients with Chronic Sinusitis

Abstract

Ueno K, Wang ZH, Hanamure Y, Yoshitsugu M, Fukuda K, Furuta S, Uehara F, Ohyama M. Reduced sialylation of glycoproteins in nasal glands of patients with chronic sinusitis. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1997; 117: 420-423.

This study was conducted to investigate the sialylations of glycoproteins in the nasal glands of patients with chronic sinusitis. Sialic acids were detected using lectin histochemistry, and the mRNA of sialyltransferase was evaluated by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA), which recognizes terminal sialic acids, strongly stained the glandular mucous cells of normal subjects, but not those of patients with chronic sinusitis. In situ hybridization histochemistry showed that the expression of α2,6 sialyltransferase mRNA was decreased in the secretory cells of patients with chronic sinusitis. Our present results suggest that a reduction in sialyltransferase activity at the mRNA level in the nasal glands may lead to the persistence of chronic sinusitis.

Key Words:

• in situ hybridization histochemistry
• lectin histochemistry
• sialic acid
• sialyl transferase