The comparison of tissue expression and serum levels of HGF/C-MET in nasal polyposis

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare tissue expression and serum levels of HGF and its receptor HGF-R (c-MET) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) to control group and to assess the correlation of tissue and serum levels in each group. Serum eosinophil levels, vitamin-D levels and disease severity are also to be evaluated. Methods: Patients over 18-years of age that were operated in Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine between 15.10.2021-15.01.2022 for CRSwNP and that were operated with septoplasty or septorhinoplasty during the same dates were included as patient and control groups, respectively. Polyps were graded with Meltzer and Lund-Mackay systems. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes. Genotyping of the tissues was performed with RT-PCR using appropriate probes. Serum levels were determined using ELISA. Quality of life was evaluated using SNOT-22 questionnaire. Results: The low levels of vitamin-D and high levels of eosinophil, SNOT-22 scores, tissue HGF and c-MET found in patient group compared to control group were statistically significant (p=0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001, p<0,001, p=0,039, respectively). The difference between serum HGF and c-MET levels of patient and control groups was not statistically significant (p=0,962, p=0,465). Significant correlation between serum and tissue levels of HGF and c-MET was not found. Conclusions: Tissue expression levels of HGF and c-MET in patient group were found higher compared to control group while the difference between serum levels was not significant. There was not significant correlation between tissue and serum levels. Vitamin-D levels of patient group were significantly lower while eosinophil levels were significantly higher compared to control group.