Superantigens and the expression of T-cell receptor repertoire in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
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.
Wang
Mingming
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shandong Provincial Hospita, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Shi
Peng
P
Yue
Zhiyong
Z
Chen
Bei
B
Zhang
Hongping
H
Zhang
Daliang
D
Wang
Haibo
H
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
D005098:Exotoxins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018089:Superantigens