Role of Apoptosis in the Pathogenesis of Nasal Polyps Based Upon Galectin-3 Expression.

OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to investigate the antiapoptotic mechanisms in nasal polyps that occur after glandular hyperplasia.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective histopathological analyses of patients with nasal polyps.

METHODS: The study comprised 54 patients (19 females; 35 males). Group-1 patients with a diagnosis of nasal polyposis; group-2 patients with a diagnosis of antrochoanal polyps; group-3 with a diagnosis of deviation of the nasal septum as a control group. Tissues were taken during their surgery and fixed in paraffin blocks, stained to detect galectin-3, and evaluated under a light microscope. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the surface epithelium, glandular epithelium, and connective tissue were divided into groups according to the intensity of galectin-3 staining: "mild," "moderate," and "strong." The percentage of stained tissue was also graded: <10%, 10% to 50%, 51% to 80%, and >80%. Hence, the extent of expression of galectin-3 and percentage of stained tissue was calculated.

RESULTS: Significant differences in the staining intensity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes for galectin-3 were observed between the 3 groups (P <0.01). Staining intensity in control group was significantly lower than that in group I and group II (P = 0.001; P <0.01). However, there was no significant difference between group I and group II (P >0.05).

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that galectin-3 has a role in the formation of nasal polyps.