Published in:
01-04-2013 | SINUSITIS (ML KOWALSKI, SECTION EDITOR)
Gene Expression Signatures: A New Approach to Understanding the Pathophysiology of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors:
Chunwei Li, Li Shi, Yan Yan, Bruce R. Gordon, William M. Gordon, De-Yun Wang
Published in:
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
|
Issue 2/2013
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Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory disease with variable disease manifestation. Though external risk factors are associated with development and/or persistence of CRS, the host mucosal response is also important, as nasal epithelium acts as a physical and immune barrier. Under inflammatory stress, the nasal epithelium can undergo injury, followed by a rapid remodeling response ranging from epithelial hyperplasia, to goblet-cell metaplasia, to denudation, loss of cilia, fibrosis, and basement membrane thickening. Identification of gene expression signatures and molecular pathways in CRS pathogenesis have now begun to contribute significantly to a better understanding of the genetic and molecular alterations underlying CRS development and progression. Genetic studies are especially illuminating when multiple gene variants synergize within a permissive environmental context, and are expected to guide development of more effective therapeutic targets for CRS treatment.