Heat Shock Protein 70 and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Adenoid Tissue of Children Exposed to Passive Smoke

Objective: We aimed to investigate the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in hypertrophic adenoid tissues of children with passive smoke exposure. Material and Methods: Fifteen children with passive smoke exposure (study group) and 15 children without passive smoke exposure (control group) who underwent surgical intervention due to adenoid hypertrophy were enrolled in this study. The expression of HSP70 and iNOS was investigated in the adenoid tissues obtained from both groups by immunohistochemical staining using anti-HSP70 and anti-iNOS antibodies. Results: The mean age of the 15 children who were exposed to passive smoke was 7.8 +/- 2.5 (ranging from 4 to 13 years); 9 were boys and 6 were girls. Mean age of the control group, consisting of 8 boys and 7 girls was 6.9 +/- 2.1 (ranging from 4 to 12 years). The groups had similar age and gender characteristics. HSP70 and iNOS expressions in the surface epithelium, lymphoid follicles and perifollicular lymphoid tissue of the adenoids in the study group were significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Passive smoking induced HSP70 and iNOS overexpression in the adenoid tissue.