Eosinophils Correlate with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

E-cadherin was downregulated, and vimentin was upregulated in epithelial tissue from the ECRSwNP group, compared with that from the control group and the other groups. The number of vimentin-expressing epithelial cells correlated with sinus CT imaging Lund-Mackay scores (r = 0.560, p < 0.001). Moreover, expression levels of vimentin in the epithelium were associated with numbers of infiltrating EOS in tissues (r = 0.710, p < 0.001) and the peripheral blood EOS ratio (r = 0.594, p < 0.001). EMT occurred in patients with CRSwNP, especially in those with ECRSwNP. Epithelial reprogramming correlates with eosinophil infiltration and disease severity. Eosinophils contributed to impairment of epithelial function and promoted EMT in CRSwNP.