OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship among the expression of GSK3β, PI3K/Akt signaling transduction pathway,and cytokines IL6 in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

METHODSWe assayed mRNA and protein for GSK3β, PI3K, Akt by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and measured the cytokines IL6 mRNA by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the nasal tissue from the patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), Chronic Rhinosinusitis without Nasal Polyps (CRSsNP) and control subjects.

RESULTSThe relative expression levels of GSK3β, PI3K, Akt and IL-6 in CRSwNP were 0.6254 ± 0.0584, 0.8239 ± 0.7186, 0.9369 ± 0.0823 and 0.8973 ± 0.0680. But the relative expression levels of GSK3β, PI3K, Akt and IL-6 in control subjects were 0.2684 ± 0.0726, 0.3578 ± 0.0994, 0.6721 ± 0.0590, 0.5898 ± 0.0891. There were significant differences between the groups of CRSwNP and control subjects (t values were 2.358, 3.071, 2.764, and 2.239, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of GSK3β, PI3K, Akt and GSK3β between the groups of CRSwNP and CRSsNP (t values were 1.597, 1.842, 1.468 and 0.926, respectively, all P < 0.05). GSK3β, PI3K, Akt were not only expressed in the cytoplasm of the epithelium and gland cells, but also in the cytoplasm of the inflammatory cell. GSK3β, PI3K, Akt protein in CRS were detected at a higher rate than the normal nasal tissue (values were 16.42, 16.25 and 15.57,respectively, all P < 0.01). However there was no significant difference of GSK3β, PI3K, Akt protein between the groups of CRSwNP and CRSsNP (values were 3.27, 2.85 and 2.46, respectively, all P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation trend among the expression of GSK3β, PI3K and Akt, and IL-6 in CRS (r values were 0.645, 0.617 and 0.583,respectively, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of IL-6, PI3K, Akt and GSK3β in the nasal mucosa of CRS may play a pro-inflammatory role in the occurrence and development of CRS.