Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Cytokines in Nasal Polyps: is There a Local Immune System in the Nasal Polyp?

Purpose: The pathogenesis of chronic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis with massive nasal polyposis is still not entirely known. The present study evaluates the lymphocyte subpopulations and their production of cytokines using a technique for detection of intracytoplasmic cytokines by flow cytometry. This information may allow us to determine whether the source of these lymphocytes is from peripheral blood, the common mucosal immune system, or both.

Methods: Detection of intracytoplasmic cytokines by flow cytometry was performed using a fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody directed against CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and a rhodamine-labeled intracytoplasmic monoclonal antibody directed against four cytokines. In this way, the percentage of lymphocytes synthesizing TH1 and TH2 cytokines were identified in nasal polyp lymphocytes and the corresponding peripheral blood lymphocytes of 13 patients.

Results: Lymphocytes producing interferon-gamma and IL-2, as well as IL-4 and IL-5, were found in the nasal polyps, suggesting that the nasal polyp possesses both TH1 and TH2 cytokine expression. There are also significant differences between the percentage of lymphocytes producing these cytokines between nasal polyps and peripheral blood, suggesting that nasal polyp lymphocytes derive from at least another source than only peripheral blood lymphocytes. Statistical analysis of four groups of patients demonstrated that no statistically significant difference in the lymphocyte subpopulations in atopic versus non-atopic patients, nor aspirin-intolerant versus aspirin-tolerant patients. In general, CD8 cells always produce more interferon-gamma than IL-2 in both peripheral blood and nasal polyps. In contrast with this data, CD4 cells produce more IL-2 in the peripheral blood than in nasal polyps.

Conclusions: Data support the concept that nasal polyp lymphocyte subpopulations may be derived from both the local mucosal immune system as well as from random migration of peripheral blood lymphocytes secondary to adhesion molecules and chemokines, which are known to be present in nasal polyps.