Characterizing T-cell phenotypes in nasal polyposis in Chinese patients.
BACKGROUND
Nasal polyposis has different etiologies in Western and Eastern countries. Furthermore, its pathogenesis is still poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the T-cell phenotypes involved in nasal polyposis in Chinese patients.


METHODS
Twenty-four Chinese patients with nasal polyps were studied. CD4, CD8, Foxp3, and interleukin (IL) 17 were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Expression of T-bet, GATA-3, Foxp3, and RORgammat mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The levels of T-cell cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, interferon [IFN] gamma, IL-10, IL-17, and transforming growth factor [TGF] beta) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels were measured using the UNICAP system.


RESULTS
Increased expression of CD4+ and CD8+ and decreased expression of Foxp3 and IL-17 were detected in nasal polyps compared with control tissue. Furthermore, expression of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA was upregulated, whereas Foxp3 mRNA expression was markedly downregulated. Furthermore, increased levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 and decreased levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta were found in nasal polyps. There was no association between Staphylococcus aureus exotoxin (SAE)-specific IgE and T regulatory cell (Treg) insufficiency in nasal polyps.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that excessive infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in nasal polyps may be associated with expression of Foxp3+ by Tregs but not with SAEs in Chinese patients.
Shi
J
J
Allergy and Cancer Center, Otorhinolarygology Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and Otorhinolaryngology Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Fan
Y
Y
Xu
R
R
Zuo
K
K
Cheng
L
L
Xu
G
G
Li
H
H
D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002681:China; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E