Identification of differential pathogenic mechanisms between chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and odontogenic sinusitis using the PrimeView™ Human Gene Expression Array

Objectives: To explore mucosal tissue gene expression and pathway differences between chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and odontogenic sinusitis (OS) using the PrimeView™ Human Gene Expression Array to identify the different molecular genetic pathways associated with the development of these two diseases. Materials and methods: According to the “Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Kunming, 2012)”and “European Rhinology Diagnostic Tools Position Paper 2019”, 12 patients with CRSwNP and OS (6 with CRSwNP and 6 with OS) were screened for surgery. The Prime View ^TM Human Gene Expression Array was hybridized with the RNA lysate. CRSwNP- and OS-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a more than 2-fold change in expression were considered significant and subjected to GO and pathway enrichment analyses. The top-ranked up- and downregulated DEGs were selected and used to explore the molecular mechanisms of disease development via a literature analysis. Results: A total of 1037 DEGs, including 168 upregulated genes and 869 downregulated genes, were detected in CRSwNP vs. OS. The top 10 hub genes, MAPK14, ACTB, GNAI, CXCR1, CXCR2, JAK, CXCL1, CXCL8, CCR1 and CCR2, were downregulated. Conclusions: Bioinformatics analysis of genome-wide expression revealed that CRSwNP is an eosinophil-associated TH2-type, immune-related and infection-related disease. OS is an infectious immune disease related to neutrophil enrichment. Clinical relevance: This study provides a theoretical foundation for the differential diagnosis of CRSwNP and OS by dentists and otolaryngologists.