OBJECTIVETo compare the expression difference of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) protein and mRNA among the chronic rhinosinusitis tissues, nasal polyps tissues, and normal mucosa tissues.

METHODSThe mRNA expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in chronic rhinosinusitis tissues from 10 patients, in nasal polyp tissues from 10 patients, and in inferior turbinate tissues from 10 patients underwent nasal septum operation was detected by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detected the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 protein in a different set of 20 chronic rhinosinusitis tissues, 20 nasal polyp tissues, and 20 normal inferior turbinate tissues.

RESULTS(1) The mRNA and protein expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 was detected on epithelial and glandular cells membrane in all chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps and control tissues . (2) The mRNA and protein expression of TLR-2 and the mRNA expression of TLR-4 in chronic rhinosinusitis tissues was significantly increased compared with that in nasal polyps and control tissues (P < 0.05). (3) The expression intensity of TLR-2 and TLR-4 mRNA and protein between nasal polyps and control tissues was found no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDifferent TLR-2 and TLR-4 protein and mRNA level in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyp tissues might imply that TLR-2 and TLR-4 play different role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.