Bacteria and fungi can act as superantigens regarding T cell activation. Previous
studies have shown a specific stimulation of CD4+ T cells in patients with CRSwNP.
The influence of C. albicans on the pathogenesis of CRS is discussed controversially
and its exact role is not clear up to date. The aim of the present study was to measure
the influence of C. albicans on the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in patients with CRS with and without nasal polyps.
Tissue and blood samples were collected from 8 patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis
with and without nasal polyps (n = 10) undergoing nasal sinus surgery respectively.
Furthermore, antigen-presenting cells (APC) were obtained from peripheral blood. CD4+ and CD8+ cells were cultured together with APC in each case. A peptide pool with C. albicans
was added to tissue and blood samples for 6 days. After 6 days, lymphocytes were separated
and analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry. Activation was assessed by the intracellular
marker Ki-67 and the cytokine secretion was measured in the supernatant.
No statistical differences on Ki67 expression of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after stimulation by C. albicans were seen between peripheral blood lymphocytes
and tissue samples in patients with CRSwNP or CRSsNP as well as in the activation
of tissue CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in CRSwNP compared to CRSsNP. No differences were measured between tissue
CD8+ T cells of CRSwNP compared to CRSsNP and cytokine secretion was similar between the
study groups.
In this study, no specific stimulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by C. albicans was seen. C. albicans does not seem to play any role in the
pathogenesis of CRS with and without nasal polyps despite its high local presence.
Poster-PDF
A-1152.PDF
