Fei Wang, Ye Xiong, Yaxian Zhu, Xiaoqian Yang, Kai Liu, Zhenhua Zhu

Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Zhenhua Zhu, Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 95, Shaoshan Middle Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan, 410125, People’s Republic of China, Email zhenhua787@163.com

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent otolaryngologic condition that markedly impacts patients’ quality of life; however its pathogenesis is intricate and the clinical efficacy of known treatments remains limited.
Methods: In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the role of immune function in the pathogenesis of CRS. Recent studies have revealed a correlation between macrophage polarization and CRS development. Macrophage polarization denotes distinct phenotypes of macrophages in diverse microenvironments, with the M1 and M2 phenotypes sharing similarities with the Yin-Yang concept of traditional Chinese medicine, encompassing mutual support and utilization, a balance between growth and elimination, and self-healing and equilibrium.
Results: This study briefly reviews the latest research on traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions and the regulation of macrophage polarization by traditional Chinese medicine monomers, aligned with the main treatment principles of CRS, with the aim of offering novel directions and strategies for the clinical management of this condition.
Conclusion: This study investigated the role of macrophage polarization in CRS from the perspective of the Yin-Yang Theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis, the Yin–yang theory, macrophage polarization