RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To validate the expression of Cu/ZnSOD and PLUNC protein in chronic sinusitis and nasal polyp tissue by immunohistochemistry. METHOD: Thirty-four nasal polyps, 30 chronic sinusitis and 18 control cases were chosen. All samples were stained with SP immunohistochemical method to examine Cu/ZnSOD and PLUNC protein respectively. RESULT: (1) Interestingly, we found the positive intensity of Cu/ZnSOD and PLUNC protein were the same in one sample, and they were both expressed in nasal epithelium mucosae, glandular epithelium and goblet cells; (2) We calculated that the constituent ratio among nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis and normal nasal mucosa was significant difference (chi2 = 30.689, P<0.01). The positive intensity of nasal polyps was mainly "+", and the positive intensity of chronic sinusitis was mainly "+++", and the positive intensity of normal nasal mucosa was mainly "++". CONCLUSION: Both Cu/ZnSOD and PLUNC protein are important part of the innate defense mechanism in nasal mucosa. Once the nasal mucosa is irritated by infectious agents or chemical factors, nasal epithelium mucosae, glandular epithelium and goblet cells will proliferate reactively, and then produce antiinflammatory agents such as Cu/ZnSOD and PLUNC protein to defend inflammation.