Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP): the correlation between expression of Galectin-10 and Clinical-Cytological Grading (CCG)
Matteo Gelardi, Giuseppe Stefano Netti, Rossana Giancaspro, Federica Spadaccino, Antonio Pennella, Valeria Fiore, Emanuel La Gatta, G. Grilli, Michele Cassano, Elena Ranieri
Abstract
Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is typically characterized by Type 2 inflammation. Several biomarkers of eosinophilic inflammation, including Galectin-10, also known as Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLCP), have been identified to establish eosinophilic infiltration of polyps, a reliable predictor of recurrence. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the Galectin-10 expression in nasal polyps of patients with CRSwNP and to assess the correlation of Charcot-Leyden crystals expression to the severity of CRSwNP according to Clinical-Cytological Grading (CCG). Methods A double-label immunofluorescence was performed to evaluate the expression of Gal-10, CD15, Tryptase, and CD63 and their eventual co-localization on histological samples of 18 patients with CRSwNP. Double-positive Gal-10+CD15+ and Galectin-10+Tryptase+ inflammatory cells were counted by confocal microscopy. Results Galectin-10 was detectable in all examined tissues from CRSwNP patients, and its expression increased as low, medium and high CCG tissues were examined, respectively. Galectin-10 was extensively present in inflammatory cells, while limited Galectin-10 deposits were detected around mucosal epithelial cells. Conclusion We showed the strong correlation between CCG and Galectin-10 expression, mainly colocalized with infiltrating eosinophils and mast-cells, in patients affected by CRSwNP.