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).

OBJECTIVES:

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.

MATERIALS AND 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: Mingming Wang, Peng Shi, Zhiyong Yue, Bei Chen, Hongping Zhang, Daliang Zhang, Haibo Wang
• Journal: Acta oto-laryngologica (Acta Otolaryngol) Vol. 128 Issue 8 Pg. 901-8 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 0001-6489 [Print] England
• PMID: 18607886 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Exotoxins
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
• Superantigens

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Case-Control Studies
• Chronic Disease
• Exotoxins (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Polyps (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell (metabolism)
• Rhinitis (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Sinusitis (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Staphylococcus (immunology)
• Superantigens (metabolism)
• Young Adult