title: Superantigens and the expression of T-cell receptor repertoire in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Staphylococcal exotoxins (SEs), acting as superantigens, activate the beta variable chains of T-cell receptors (TCRVbeta) with subsequent massive proliferation and corresponding excursion of gene spectra, thereby contributing to the etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the presence of SEs in sinonasal mucosa, and determine the effect of superantigens on the T cells expressing the target of superantigen, i.e. TCRVbeta in patients with CRSwNP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal mucosa and sinonasal polyp tissue specimens were obtained from 37 patients with CRS (22 with bilateral nasal polyps, 15 without nasal polyps). Specimens were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for SEs (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED) and toxic shock syndrome toxin type-1 (TSST-1), and analyzed by flow cytometry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively, to determine the expression of TCRVbeta repertoire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the CRSwNP subjects 12 of 22 samples (54.54%) demonstrated reactivity for staphylococcal exotoxins. There was no positive result in the CRS without nasal polyps or normal control group. There was a high percentage of Vbeta+ T cells in the superantigen-positive group. The expressional intensity of Vbeta3, 14, 15, 17, and 20 was specifically enhanced in SEB-positive subjects, as well as that of Vbeta2 and 6.1-3 in specimens that were TSST-1-positive compared with those that were negative for superantigens (all p<0.05). There were no dominantly expressed Vbeta fragments in ELISA-negative specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shandong Provincial Hospita, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Daliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005098:Exotoxins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018089:Superantigens