[Effect of erythromycin on apoptosis of epithelial cell in nasal polyps].

Objective: To study the effect of erythromycin on apoptosis and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 of epithelial cell in nasal polyps.

Methods: Epithelial cells from thirty nasal polyps and fifteen inferior turbinates were cultured in Dulbecco Eagle and Ham F12 (1:1) and divided into two groups (one group were treated with Erythromycin). Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax detected by immunohistochemistry at 1, 3, 5 days after culture.

Results: The apoptosis indexes (AI) of epithelial cell in nasal polyps after cultured for 1, 3, 5 days with erythromycin were (33.23 +/- 6.50)%, (38.21 +/- 7.22)% and (52.63 +/- 7.86)% respectively. The AI of epithelial cell in inferior turbinates were (31.02 +/- 5.60)%, (32.13 +/- 7.15)% and (39.64 +/- 7.48)% respectively. There was significant difference between two groups at 5 day after culture (P < 0.05). Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 of epithelial cell was significantly higher in nasal polyps than that in inferior turbinates (P < 0.01). Expression of Bax of epithelial cell cultured with erythromycin was significantly higher than that in the controls (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was clearly promoted after 5 day culture with Erythromycin (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Erythromycin promoted expression of Bax and apoptosis of epithelial cell in nasal polyps.