Possible role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of chronic adenoiditis and adenoid hypertrophy: A prospective, parallel-group study

Background: Adenoid tissue is a first-line host defense secondary lymphoid organ, especially in childhood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is required to maintain balanced cellular activity. With impaired ER functions, protein accumulation occurs, resulting in ER stress, which plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of many diseases. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between ER stress and adenoid tissue disorders, thereby elucidating the mechanisms of immunity-related diseases. Methods: Fifty-four pediatric patients (>3 years old) who underwent adenoidectomy for chronic adenoiditis (CA) or adenoid hypertrophy (AH) were enrolled in this prospective, parallel-group clinical study. Adenoids were divided into two groups (CA or AH) based on their size and evaluated for ER stress pathway and apoptosis pathway markers by Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Results: ER stress pathway markers significantly differed between the CA and AH groups. Children with CA had higher ER stress marker levels than the AH group (p <.001 for ATF-4, ATF-6, and GRP78, and p <.05 for EDEM1, CHOP, EIF2AK3, ERNI, and GRP94). Apoptosis pathway marker levels (BAX and BCL-2) were not different between groups. Conclusions: ER stress contributes to the etiopathogenesis of adenoid tissue diseases and the pathogenesis of adenoid tissue disorders, which are part of the immune response. These results may guide the development of new and alternative treatments for immune system disorders.