3.2 | Expression of MG53, TGF-β1, Smad2/3, ZO-1, and Col-a1 was elevated in HNECs in the CRSsNP group, but reduced in the CRSwNP group
Results of HNEC immunofluorescence staining showed elevated ZO-1 expression in the CRSsNP group, whereas reduced expression was found in the CRSwNP group compared with the control group (Fig. 2A). Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of MG53, TGF-β1, Smad2/3, ZO-1, and Col-a1 was significantly enhanced in the CRSsNP group, whereas it was significantly reduced in the CRSwNP group (Fig. 2B–D), consistent with the results of nasal mucosa specimens.
3.3 | MG53 inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad pathway as well as the expression of ZO-1 and Col-a1
MG53 were overexpressed in HNECs from the specimens of the CRSwNP group by transfection with adenovirus to understand the regulatory relationship between MG53 and TGF-β1/Smad Pathway. The transfection efficiency of adenovirus is shown in appendices A and B. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses showed that overexpression of MG53 downregulated the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, ZO-1, and Col-a1 (Fig. 3A–C).