Specific stimulation of isolated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells with fungal antigenes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are ubiquitously present and colonization in the nose and oral cavity is common. The influence on the pathogenesis of CRS is discussed controversially and its exact role is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to detect and characterize C. albicans- and A. fumigatus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP).

Tissue and blood samples were collected from patients suffering from CRSwNP and CRSsNP and undergoing paranasal sinus surgery. Tissue samples were dissociated and a cell sorting for CD4+, CD8+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC) was performed. Purified CD4+ or CD8+ cells were then cultured together with APC and a peptide pool derived from C. albicans antigen or A. fumigatus for 6 days. After 6 days, the lymphocytes were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry. Activation was determined by the intracellular marker Ki-67 and the cytokine secretion was measured in the supernatant.

Tissue-derived CD8⁺ T cells from CRSsNP patients showed a significantly higher proportion of Ki-67⁺ cells after activation with C. albicans antigen compared to CD8⁺ T cells from peripheral blood. After stimulation with A. fumigatus, CRSwNP showed a higher proportion of tissue Ki-67+ CD4+ T cells compared to CRSsNP, which showed a higher proportion of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-17a. Following stimulation with both fungi, a high variability in the expression of the activation marker Ki-67 between each tissue sample was observed.

In this study, we identified fungal-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in patients with CRS were identified. Despite of high interindividual differences, one can speculate that they possible play a role in the pathogenesis of CRS.

Poster-PDF A-1110.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021