Transcriptomics Identify KCNJ2 as a Potential Novel Biomarker for the Postoperative Recurrence in Chronic Sinusitis

Minglang Zhou; Hui Huang; Chunbo Feng; Miao He; Dapeng Li; Jinsong Jiang; Guosheng Dai; Qingjun Ji; Wei Chai

doi:10.71321/t4rcfz38

Authors

Minglang Zhou Bozhou People's Hospital
Hui Huang Bozhou People's Hospital
Chunbo Feng Bozhou People's Hospital
Miao He Bozhou People's Hospital
Dapeng Li Bozhou People's Hospital
Jinsong Jiang Bozhou People's Hospital
Guosheng Dai Bozhou People's Hospital
Qingjun Ji Bozhou People's Hospital
Wei Chai Bozhou People's Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71321/t4rcfz38

Keywords:

Chronic rhinosinusitis, RNA-seq, Macrophages, KCNJ2, Recurrence

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract with a relatively high postoperative recurrence rate. Transcriptomic profiling may facilitate the identification of biomarkers associated with disease recurrence. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptomic features of postoperative recurrent CRS and identify potential recurrence-associated biomarkers. A total of 25 patients with CRS were enrolled, including 13 patients with postoperative recurrence and 12 without recurrence. Nasal mucosal tissues and serum samples were analyzed using RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. KCNJ2 expression was significantly upregulated in the postoperative recurrence group. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a positive correlation between tissue KCNJ2 mRNA expression and estimated M1 macrophage infiltration. Further validation confirmed that KCNJ2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in the recurrence group and positively correlated with M1 macrophage markers. In addition, serum cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased in the postoperative recurrence group, whereas the serum level of TGF-β was significantly decreased compared with the non-recurrence group. These cytokine alterations were significantly correlated with tissue KCNJ2 expression. These findings suggest that elevated KCNJ2 expression is associated with postoperative recurrence and an M1-skewed inflammatory microenvironment in CRS. KCNJ2 may therefore represent a candidate recurrence-associated biomarker, although prospective validation is required.

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