Expression of ILR18, TCF7 and GATA3 on innate lymphoids cells in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Introduction Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) represent a group of inflammatory cells of the innate immune system. According to the present knowledge, these local tissue-based cells play an important role in the direct immune defense.. In contrast to lymphocytes, they do not have a T cell receptor and therefore do not require antigen-specific activation. The influence of ILR18, TCF7 and GATA 3 on the function and cooperation between innate and adaptive immune system could be shown. The aim of the present work was the precise characterization with expression of the above-mentioned factors of the ILCs in patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis.

Material and methods Lymphocytes were obtained from nasal mucosa and from peripheral whole blood (PBMC) of patients with CRSwNP, CRSsNP and healthy controls undergoing sinus surgery and isolated after enzymatic digestion. Then, flow cytometric measurements were carried out using the markers CD45, CD3, CD127, CD94, CD161, CD117, CRTH2, ILR18, TCF7, GATA3 and NKP44.

Results Overall, only very few ILCs could be detected in all samples. Significant differences were found in the expression of TCF7 on the ILC2 in the comparison of inflammatory tissue to healthy controls.

Conclusion In this study, an up-to-date characterization of the ILCs could be carried out. As in other studies, the numbers of these cells measured by flow cytometry are very low. The higher expression of TCF7 suggests a longer survival of cells in the inflamed tissue as a possible influencing factor on the pathogenesis of the disease.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023