The role of FGFR1 receptor in adenotonsillar hypertrophy

Adenotonsillar diseases are frequently encountered in ENT practice. The two most common forms of adenotonsillar disease is adenotonsillar hypertrophy leading to airway obstruction and chronic adenotonsillar inflammation. These forms have different clinical presentations, disease progressions and pathological mechanisms, and the underlying causes are not exactly known. FGFR1 is a receptor protein from transmembrane tyrosine kinase protein family. It is shown in the literature that FGFR1 plays important roles in cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation and survival; and tissue responses such as inflammation or fibrosis. The aim of this study is to determine if FGFR1 plays a role in pathologies of adenotonsillar tissue. The localization of FGFR1 in adenotonsillar tissues is determined immunohistochemically by using FGFR1 antibodies. After that, adenoid and tonsil sizes determined in physical examination, tissue volume and mass of the surgical specimens and tissue FGFR1 concentrations of 59 children who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy because of adenotonsillar hypertrophy or chronic inflammation are measured and compared. Results show that in adenoid and tonsil tissue, FGFR1 is located in cells outside the germinal centers. In palatine tonsils, FGFR1 concentration is found to be negatively correlated with tissue volume and mass (p<0.05). In adenoid tissue, no correlation was found between tissue mass and volume and FGFR1 concentration (p>0.05). These findings show that FGFR1 receptor may play a role in the hypertrophy of palatine tonsils.