Superantigens and chronic rhinosinusitis: skewing of T-cell receptor V beta-distributions in polyp-derived CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

• Published in: American journal of rhinology 2006-09, Vol.20 (5), p.534-539
• Main Authors: Conley, David B, Tripathi, Anju, Seiberling, Kristin A, Schleimer, Robert P, Suh, Lydia A, Harris, Kathleen, Paniagua, Mary C, Grammer, Leslie C, Kern, Robert C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Chronic Disease; Humans; Nasal Polyps - immunology; Nasal Polyps - microbiology; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - analysis; Sinusitis - immunology; Sinusitis - microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus - immunology; Superantigens - immunology
• ISSN: 1050-6586; 1539-6290
• DOI: 10.2500/ajr.2006.20.2941

Recent studies have suggested that Staphylococcus aureus secrete superantigenic toxins that play a role in the etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Twenty S. aureus superantigens (SAg's) have been identified, each of which bind the V beta-region of the T-cell receptor (TCR) outside the peptide-binding site. Approximately 50 distinct V beta-domains exist in the human repertoire, and distinct SAg's will bind only particular domains generating a pattern of V beta-enrichment in lymphocytes dependent on the binding characteristics of a given toxin. The aim of this study was to analyze the pattern of V beta-expression in polyp-derived lymphocytes from CRSwNP patients. Polyps were harvested from 20 patients with CRSwNP and 3 patients with antrochoanal polyps. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the V beta-repertoire of polyp-derived CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Data were analyzed in light of the known skewing associated with SAg exposure in vivo and in vitro. Skewing was defined as a percentage of V beta-expression >2 SD of that seen in normal blood. Seven of 20 subjects exhibited skewing in V beta-domains with strong associations with S. aureus SAg's. The three antrochoanal polyps failed to show any significant V beta-skewing. This study establishes evidence of S. aureus SAg-T-cell interactions in polyp lymphocytes of 35% of CRSwNP patients. Although these results are consistent with intranasal exposure of polyp lymphocytes to SAg's, additional study is necessary to establish the role of these toxins in disease pathogenesis.