title: Superantigens and nasal polyps.
abstract: Nasal polyps represent an often severe T-cell-orchestrated eosinophilic upper airway disease with currently unknown pathogenesis, often associated with lower airway disease, such as asthma. Superantigens, predominantly derived from Staphylococcus aureus, are potent activators of T cells, induce the synthesis of IgE in B cells, and have direct effects on pro-inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils. IgE antibodies to S. aureus enterotoxins have been described in polyp tissue, linked to a local polyclonal IgE production and an aggravation of eosinophilic inflammation. Furthermore, such IgE antibodies have also been described in the sera of patients with asthma, and linked to severity of disease and steroid insensitivity. This review summarizes our current understanding of the possible role of S. aureus enterotoxins in chronic severe airway disease, such as nasal polyposis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. claus.bachert@ugent.be
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachert
authors.forename: Thibaut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Zele
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Schrijver
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberge
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018089:Superantigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E