Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the sinus mucosa characterized by significant tissue remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zygimantas Vaitkus, Astra Vitkauskiene, Liutauras Labanauskas, Justinas Vaitkus, Povilas Lozovskis, Saulius Vaitkus, Ieva Janulaityte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/654
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312769243873280
author Zygimantas Vaitkus
Astra Vitkauskiene
Liutauras Labanauskas
Justinas Vaitkus
Povilas Lozovskis
Saulius Vaitkus
Ieva Janulaityte
author_facet Zygimantas Vaitkus
Astra Vitkauskiene
Liutauras Labanauskas
Justinas Vaitkus
Povilas Lozovskis
Saulius Vaitkus
Ieva Janulaityte
author_sort Zygimantas Vaitkus
collection DOAJ
description Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the sinus mucosa characterized by significant tissue remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in post-operative tissues of CRS patients. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with CRS, divided into CRSwNP (with nasal polyps) and CRSsNP (without nasal polyps) groups, were compared with a control group of 10 individuals undergoing nasal surgeries for non-CRS conditions. Gene expression analysis was conducted using quantitative real-time PCR, and plasma cytokine levels were measured via ELISA. Results indicated significantly higher expression of <i>collagen I</i>, <i>collagen III</i>, <i>fibronectin</i>, <i>vimentin</i>, <i>periostin</i>, and <i>tenascin C</i> in CRS tissues, especially in CRSsNP patients. Conversely, <i>elastin</i> expression was markedly lower. <i>MMP-2</i>, <i>MMP-9</i>, <i>TIMP-1</i>, and <i>TIMP-2</i> expression was significantly altered, with CRSsNP showing lower levels compared to CRSwNP and controls. <i>TGF-β1</i> expression was elevated in both CRS groups, particularly in CRSsNP, highlighting its role in fibrosis and ECM remodeling. Additionally, increased plasma concentrations of TSLP and TGF-<i>β</i>1 suggest epithelial activation and immune dysregulation in CRS. These findings underscore distinct remodeling profiles in CRS endotypes, emphasizing the need for targeted therapeutic strategies based on molecular phenotyping. Understanding ECM dysregulation and inflammatory pathways in CRS may lead to improved, individualized treatment approaches.
format Article
id doaj-art-eb3bd6d18e544605aaf5fb32ee42bfb6
institution Kabale University
issn 2073-4409
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Cells
spelling doaj-art-eb3bd6d18e544605aaf5fb32ee42bfb62025-08-20T03:52:58ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-04-0114965410.3390/cells14090654Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis PatientsZygimantas Vaitkus0Astra Vitkauskiene1Liutauras Labanauskas2Justinas Vaitkus3Povilas Lozovskis4Saulius Vaitkus5Ieva Janulaityte6Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Academy of Medicine at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-44307 Kaunas, LithuaniaChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the sinus mucosa characterized by significant tissue remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in post-operative tissues of CRS patients. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with CRS, divided into CRSwNP (with nasal polyps) and CRSsNP (without nasal polyps) groups, were compared with a control group of 10 individuals undergoing nasal surgeries for non-CRS conditions. Gene expression analysis was conducted using quantitative real-time PCR, and plasma cytokine levels were measured via ELISA. Results indicated significantly higher expression of <i>collagen I</i>, <i>collagen III</i>, <i>fibronectin</i>, <i>vimentin</i>, <i>periostin</i>, and <i>tenascin C</i> in CRS tissues, especially in CRSsNP patients. Conversely, <i>elastin</i> expression was markedly lower. <i>MMP-2</i>, <i>MMP-9</i>, <i>TIMP-1</i>, and <i>TIMP-2</i> expression was significantly altered, with CRSsNP showing lower levels compared to CRSwNP and controls. <i>TGF-β1</i> expression was elevated in both CRS groups, particularly in CRSsNP, highlighting its role in fibrosis and ECM remodeling. Additionally, increased plasma concentrations of TSLP and TGF-<i>β</i>1 suggest epithelial activation and immune dysregulation in CRS. These findings underscore distinct remodeling profiles in CRS endotypes, emphasizing the need for targeted therapeutic strategies based on molecular phenotyping. Understanding ECM dysregulation and inflammatory pathways in CRS may lead to improved, individualized treatment approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/654extracellular matrixcollagenfibronectinMMPTIMPchronic rhinosinusitis
spellingShingle Zygimantas Vaitkus
Astra Vitkauskiene
Liutauras Labanauskas
Justinas Vaitkus
Povilas Lozovskis
Saulius Vaitkus
Ieva Janulaityte
Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
Cells
extracellular matrix
collagen
fibronectin
MMP
TIMP
chronic rhinosinusitis
title Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
title_full Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
title_fullStr Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
title_full_unstemmed Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
title_short Gene Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins, MMPs, and TIMPs in Post-Operative Tissues of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients
title_sort gene expression of extracellular matrix proteins mmps and timps in post operative tissues of chronic rhinosinusitis patients
topic extracellular matrix
collagen
fibronectin
MMP
TIMP
chronic rhinosinusitis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/9/654
work_keys_str_mv AT zygimantasvaitkus geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT astravitkauskiene geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT liutauraslabanauskas geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT justinasvaitkus geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT povilaslozovskis geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT sauliusvaitkus geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients
AT ievajanulaityte geneexpressionofextracellularmatrixproteinsmmpsandtimpsinpostoperativetissuesofchronicrhinosinusitispatients