Tissue remodeling process in upper airway mucosa in case of isolaTed posT nasal drip syndrome

Objective. Current evidences of airway mucosa remodelling process and its implication to chronic airway diseases pathogenesis, like asthma and nasal polyps, suggest, that similar process can be found in case of post nasal drip syndrome. The aim
of the study was to identify neurogenic inflammation and tissue remodelling process in nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa in
patients with isolated post nasal drip syndrome and control group, compare the data.
Materials and methods. We investigated biopsies of nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa from 10 adult patients, 5 of them had
isolated post nasal drip syndrome and 5 were from control group. We perform conventional light microscopy and immunohistological techniques for protein gene product 9.5, Chromogranin A, laminin, matrix metalloproteinase 2, matrix metalloproteinase 9, fibronectin and collagen IV.
Results. The main histological changes in the post nasal drip syndrome patient’s mucosa were infiltration of lymphocytes,
hyperplasia of mucosal glands, thickening of basal membrane. Statistically significant differences between study and control
group showed protein gene product 9.5-containing innervations and Chromogranin A immunopositive structures. There
were no differences in matrix metalloproteinase2-containing structures between study and control group, but we found statistically significant differences in matrix metalloproteinase 9 and fibronectin immunopositive structures. Collagen IV was
seen only in blood vessels basal membrane and laminin was negatives both in study and control group.
Conclusions. The changes of neuroendocrine innervations are proving the presence of neurogenic inflammation. Numerous
of MMP9- and fibronecting-containing structures, deficiency of Collagen IV in basal membranes indicate about remodeling
process in upper airway mucosa in case of post nasal drip syndrome