News Releases & Research Results Semaphorin is a key molecule that induces the formation of nasal polyps: A novel diagnostic and treatment target for refractory empyema

The results of research conducted by Associate Professor Masayuki Nishide, Dr. Takeshi Tsuda, Professor Hidenori Inohara, and Professor Atsushi Kumanogoh of the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.

• A protein called semaphorin was found to induce allergic reactions and nasal polyp formation in patients with eosinophilic rhinosinusitis, which is a refractory form of empyema characterized by the formation of nasal polyps.
• The serum level of semaphorin was positively correlated with the severity of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. Patients with a high serum level of semaphorin had a more severe and refractory disease.
• The study also demonstrated in an animal model that the administration of anti-semaphorin antibody significantly reduced the symptoms of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. Collectively, these findings suggest that semaphorin may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis.

This research project was conducted with the support of Practical Research Project for Rare/ Intractable Diseases by AMED.

The results of research were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, on February 6.

Tsuda T., et al. Pathological and therapeutic implications of eosinophil-derived Semaphorin 4D in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
DOI：10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.893