BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: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. RESULTS: Seven of 20 subjects exhibited skewing in V beta-domains with strong associations with S. aureusSAg's. The three antrochoanal polyps failed to show any significant V beta-skewing. CONCLUSION: This study establishes evidence of S. aureusSAg-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.
Authors: Kristin A Seiberling; David B Conley; Anju Tripathi; Leslie C Grammer; Lydia Shuh; G Kenneth Haines; Robert Schleimer; Robert C Kern Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: Maria Saline; Karin E J Rödström; Gerhard Fischer; Vladislav Yu Orekhov; B Göran Karlsson; Karin Lindkvist-Petersson Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2010-11-16 Impact factor: 14.919
Authors: Robert P Schleimer; Atsushi Kato; Anju Peters; David Conley; Jean Kim; Mark C Liu; Kathleen E Harris; Douglas A Kuperman; Rakesh Chandra; Silvio Favoreto; Pedro C Avila; Leslie C Grammer; Robert C Kern Journal: Proc Am Thorac Soc Date: 2009-05-01