Fig. 4. ZO-1 and E-cadherin expressions are decreased in the hypoxia-conditioned human nasal mucosa. (A) The maxillary sinus mucosa was harvested from totally (left) and partially (right) obstructed maxillary sinuses, and Western blotting was performed to compare the expressions of ZO-1 and E-cadherin. (B) The expressions of ZO-1 and E-cadherin were decreased in the totally obstructed maxillary sinus mucosa compared with the partially obstructed maxillary sinus mucosa. (C) The experiments were repeated in ten patients, and the relative band intensities of ZO-1 and E-cadherin were calculated and normalized to β-actin. P, sinus mucosa from the partially obstructed maxillary sinus; T, sinus mucosa from the totally obstructed maxillary sinus (n=10, ^*p<0.05, ^†p<0.01).