Regeneration of epithelial cells of the maxillary sinus mucosa in chronic sinusitis

Abstract

The maxillary mucosae of chronic sinusitis patients were observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Although the epithelium was severely damaged by the chronic inflammation and the ciliated cells and goblet cells were degraded and had peeled off, most of the basal cells survived at the surface of the mucosa. The surviving basal cells extended their cytoplasmic processes toward each other and finally covered the bare surface of the mucosa. Cells having a few cilia and many microvilli were occasionally observed. Immunohistochemistry for PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was also performed. The nuclei of many basal cells in the nonciliated area and those of a few ciliated cells were positive for PCNA. These findings suggest that the maxillary mucosa of chronic sinusitis has the ability to regenerate and that basal cells play the role of precursors to ciliated cells.