Tissue remodeling gene expression in a murine model of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective/hypothesis: The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) families regulate tissue remodeling in many normal and pathophysiologic processes. We hypothesize that induction of chronic sinonasal inflammation will be associated with changes in regulation of these tissue remodeling cytokines.

Methods: Balb/c mice aged 8 to 12 weeks were sensitized and treated with intranasal Aspergillus fumigatis (AF) three times per week for 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, and 3 months (n = 8 each time point).

Altered expression of tissue remodeling genes in a mouse model of acute allergic rhinitis.

Background: Osteogenesis, fibrosis, and scarring are prominent pathologic changes resulting from chronic sinonasal inflammation, and these tissue changes may increase the degree of disease symptomatology and the level of surgical difficulty. Members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) families of cytokines and the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of endopeptidases are known to regulate tissue remodeling in other disease processes, but their role in acute and chronic sinonasal inflammation remains undefined.

Methods: A previously described mouse model of acute allergic rhinitis secondary to Aspergillus fumigatis exposure in BALB/C mice was used.

Tissue remodeling in the acute otitis media mouse model.

Objectives: Otitis media is an infectious, inflammatory process involving the middle ear space. Chronic inflammation is associated with fibrosis, scarring and osteogenesis within the middle ear, which may contribute to subsequent hearing loss and increase the difficulty of treatment.

Methods: Heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae was injected into the middle ears of 8-12 week old Balb/c mice.