OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of YKL-40, TLR4 and NF-κB in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP), and to investigate their expressional correlation and the potential role in pathogenesis of CRS.

METHODSThe specimens were obtained from sinus mucosa and inferior turbinate mucosa of the patients with informed consent. The different expression of YKL-40, TLR4 and NF-κB among each group was detected by real time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (S-P method). SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSmRNA level: The relative expression of YKL-40 in CRSwNP group (0.91±0.17) was higher than those in the control group (0.49±0.09), the difference was significant (t=2.12, P<0.05). The relative expression of TLR4 in CRSsNP group (0.88±0.19) and CRSwNP group (0.67±0.13) were lower than those in control group (1.48±0.14), the differences were significant (t value was -4.11, -2.48, all P<0.05). The relative expression of NF-κB in CRSsNP group (0.69±0.13) and CRSwNP group (0.72±0.14) were lower than those in control group (1.20±0.15), the differences were significant (t value was 2.33, 2.27, all P<0.05). Protein level: The expression of YKL-40 in CRSwNP group was stronger than that in CRSsNP group and control group (U value was 72.5 and 73, all P<0.01). The expression of TLR4 in CRSwNP group and CRSsNP group was weaker than that in control group (U value was 62 and 38, all P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between YKL-40 and TLR4 (rmRNA=-0.741, P<0.01; rprotein=-0.46, P<0.05) in CRSwNP group.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of YKL-40 in pantients with CRSwNP is higher than those in healthy control and CRSsNP patients. There was a negative correlation between YKL-40 and TLR4. Both of them may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP.