Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with inflammation and tissue remodeling including myofibroblasts differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition mediated by TGF-β1 and IL-4. Oncostatin M (OSM) is a cytokine involved in fibrotic processes in other cellular subtypes. We investigated the mechanisms of action of OSM in the fibrosis process associated with CRSwNP. The expression of IL-4, OSM and TGF-β1 was assessed by RT-qPCR. Primary human cultures of nasal-polyp-derived fibroblasts were established and stimulated by TGF-β1 and/or IL-4 and/or OSM. The expression of ECM components and αSMA was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. TGF-β1-Smad3 signaling was investigated by immunofluorescence. TGF-β1, IL-4 and OSM as well as αSMA were overexpressed in nasal polyps when compared to noninflammatory nasal mucosa. In TGF-β1-stimulated nasal-polyp-derived fibroblasts, ECM genes and αSMA gene and protein were overexpressed, as well as αSMA in IL-4-stimulated fibroblasts. OSM counteracted the profibrotic effect of TGF-β1 on ECM components and αSMA. TGF-β1-induced nuclear translocation of Smad3 was completely reversed by OSM. OSM counteracts the profibrotic effect of IL-4 and also TGF-β1, by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of Smad3. We suggest OSM could be an efficient tool to protect against fibrosis in CRSwNP.
Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis; cytokines; fibroblasts; fibrosis; inflammation; nasal polyps.