Superantigens and chronic rhinosinusitis II: Analysis of T-cell receptor Vβ domains in nasal polyps

BackgroundThe superantigen (SAg) hypothesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) suggests that toxins within the nose stimulate massive oligoclonal expansion of T-cell populations with subsequent eosinophil recruitment and tissue inflammation. SAgs are capable of activating 1 × 104 more lymphocytes than conventional antigens by binding specific Vβ-domains of the T-cell receptor (TCR). The net effect is skewing from the normal Vβ-profile by oligoclonal expansion of specific domains. This study will assess polyp tissue for evidence of an SAg response in CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).MethodsThis study consists of a prospective analysis of 18 CRSwNP subjects undergoing sinus surgery. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the distribution of 24 specific TCR Vβ-domains in lymphocytes from polyp tissue and blood. Evidence of oligoclonal expansion was tabulated for each specimen and defined as mean normative percentage + 2 SD.ResultsEighteen of 18 CRSwNP subjects showed expansion of polyp lymphocytes expressing TCRs wit...