Phenotypic and functional characteristics of IL-21-expressing CD8(+) T cells in human nasal polyps.

Abstract

Although CD4(+) T cells are recognized to play an important role in the inflammatory response of nasal polyps (NPs), the biological functions of CD8(+) T cells in polypogenesis remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed cell markers, cytokine expression and transcription factors in IL-21-expressing CD8(+) T cells in polyp tissues of NP patients. The results showed that the majority of IL-21-producing CD8(+) T cells were effector memory cells and they co-expressed IFN-γ. IL-21-expressing CD8(+) T cells in polyp tissues expressed higher CXCR5, PD-1, and ICOS levels than cells in control tissues and showed significantly higher T-bet and Bcl-6 expression levels compared with IL-21(-)CD8(+) T cells. Purified polyp CD8(+) T cells promoted IgG production from isolated polyp B cells in vitro, and recombinant IL-12 modulated the expression of IL-21, IFN-γ and CD40L in purified polyp CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, the percentage of IL-21(+)CD8(+) T cells in polyp tissues was positively correlated with endoscopic and CT scan scores in NP patients. These findings indicated that polyp CD8(+) T cells, by co-expressing IL-21 and IFN-γ and other markers, display a Tfh cell functionality, which is associated with the clinical severity of NP patients.

• Authors: Li Xiao, Lei Jia, Lu Bai, Long He, Binyan Yang, Changyou Wu, Huabin Li
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 6 Pg. 30362 (07 29 2016) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27468819 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• CXCR5 protein, human
• IFNG protein, human
• IL17A protein, human
• Immunoglobulin G
• Interleukin-17
• Interleukins
• Receptors, CXCR5
• Recombinant Proteins
• CD40 Ligand
• Interferon-gamma
• interleukin-21

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• B-Lymphocytes (metabolism)
• CD40 Ligand (metabolism)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (metabolism)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Separation
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (metabolism)
• Interferon-gamma (metabolism)
• Interleukin-17 (metabolism)
• Interleukins (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Polyps (metabolism)
• Phenotype
• Receptors, CXCR5 (metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins (metabolism)
• Young Adult