title: Increased expression of transcription factor Bcl-6 in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
abstract: B cell activation and excessive immunoglobulin (Ig) production were suggested as the key molecular events of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP). However, whether T follicular cells (Tfh cells) were involved in this process has not been documented. In this study, 22 CRSwNP patients and 12 normal controls were enrolled, Bcl-6 (the key transcription factor for Tfh cell differentiation) immunoreactivity was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-6 and IL-21 was examined using qPCR, ELISA and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, the frequencies of Bcl-6(+)CD4(+) cells (Tfh cells) in polyp tissues and normal controls were measured by flow cytometry. We found that Bcl-6 mRNA and protein levels, as well as the frequencies of Bcl-6(+)CD4(+) cells were significantly increased in polyp tissues compared with normal controls. The frequencies of Bcl-6(+)CD4(+) cells were found to be significantly associated with B cell cluster formation, tissue eosinophilia, asthma comorbidity and polyp recurrence. These findings thus added a new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying CRSwNP and raise the possibility that Tfh cells could be a novel therapeutic target for difficult-to-treat CRSwNP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 4, West Duanxin Road, Huaiyin District, Ji'nan, 250021, China.
authors.forename: Yuzhu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The PLA General Hospital, No. 28, Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 4, West Duanxin Road, Huaiyin District, Ji'nan, 250021, China.
authors.forename: Sujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The PLA General Hospital, No. 28, Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 38, East Nanhu Road, Xinjiang, 830063, China. zy91900@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The PLA General Hospital, No. 28, Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China. wht301@263.net.
authors.forename: Hongtian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 4, West Duanxin Road, Huaiyin District, Ji'nan, 250021, China. whbotologic797@163.com.
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C084103:BCL6 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: B cell; Bcl-6; Chronic rhinosinusitis; Immunoglobulin; Nasal polyps; T follicular cells