title: Natural Killer Cell Deficits Aggravate Allergic Rhinosinusitis in a Murine Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Defective innate immune functions can contribute to chronic rhinosinusitis (RS). Recently, it has been reported that chronic RS patients show impaired function of natural killer (NK) cells. We investigated the role of NK cells in eosinophilic inflammation in an allergic RS mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection received nasal challenges with OVA for 5 weeks. NK cell depletion was achieved by intraperitoneal injections of anti-asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide (ASGM1) antibodies 10 days before OVA sensitization and every 5 days thereafter until sacrifice. Sinonasal complex samples were evaluated histologically, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, MIP-2, and eotaxin levels were measured in the nasal lavage fluid. Differential white blood cell counts were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allergic RS mice showed significantly more eosinophilic inflammation in the sinonasal mucosa, elevated levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin in the nasal lavage fluid, and peripheral blood eosinophilia compared to control mice. The depletion of NK cells by anti-ASGM1 treatment induced more prominent eosinophilic inflammation and increased secretion of IL-5 and peripheral blood eosinophilia in allergic RS mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The depletion of NK cells aggravates allergen-induced sinonasal eosinophilic inflammation, suggesting that impaired NK cell activity may be an exacerbating factor in eosinophilic chronic RS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Heui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Hoong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Go Eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sun A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hun Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D010047:Ovalbumin