The total number of p63+Krt5+ cells was increased significantly in the nasal epithelium from patients with CRSr (31.67, 0–235.7) compared to both patients with CRSsNP (23.0, 11.67–53.33, P = 0.004) and controls (25.17, 16.0–33.0, P = 0.017), and showed no significant difference between patients with CRSsNP and controls (P > 0.999) (Fig. 2b). Here, KRT5 is linked to chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps.