Protease-dependent activation of nasal polyp epithelial cells by airborne fungi leads to migration of eosinophils and neutrophils

Abstract

Fungi enhanced the production of chemical mediators from nasal epithelial cells. When nasal epithelial cells were activated with fungi, PAR2 and PAR3 mRNAs were more strongly expressed than in nonactivated cells. Eosinophil migration was induced by RANTES and eotaxin, and neutrophil migration was induced by IL-8 in HPECM.