The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN rhinosinusitis cohort: a large European cross-sectional study of chronic rhinosinusitis patients with and without nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common yet under-recognised chronic inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses that is classified according to the presence (CRSwNP) or absence (CRSsNP) of nasal polyps. METHODS: This paper reports the methodology and descriptive results of the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GALEN) rhinosinusitis cohort. We established a large CRS cohort within the GALEN consortium (European FP6 research initiative) to identify inflammatory endotypes, the natural disease course, and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Detailed information on the impact of CRS on HRQoL, comorbidity incidence, objective disease measures, and medical and surgical treatments were collected. RESULTS: This multicentre cross-sectional case-control study recruited 935 adults (869 eligible for analysis: 237 CRSsNP; 445 CRSwNP; 187 controls [reference group]). Comorbidities such as asthma, allergy, eczema, food allergy, urticaria, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significantly more frequent in CRS patients. Nasal corticosteroids, antibiotics, and oral corticosteroids were the most common treatments. Significantly more CRSwNP patients reported previous sinonasal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides detailed information that facilitates studying CRS and its main phenotypes. However, patient distribution of this study does not necessarily reflect disease distribution in the general population.

FcεRI expression and IgE binding by dendritic cells and basophils in allergic rhinitis and upon allergen immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In humans, both basophils and dendritic cells (DCs) express the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI). OBJECTIVE: To gain more insight into the relation between serum IgE levels and FcεRI expression and IgE binding by DCs and basophils in house dust mite (HDM) allergy and during subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). METHODS: We measured FcεRI, IgE and HDM allergen on DCs (conventional type 2 DCs, cDC2s; plasmacytoid dendritic cells, pDCs) and basophils by flow cytometry in 22 non-allergic vs 52 allergic subjects and upon HDM SCIT in 28 allergic subjects. IgE levels were measured in serum. RESULTS: Serum IgE correlated differentially with FcεRI expression and IgE binding depending on cell type and allergic status. In non-allergic subjects, FcεRI/IgE surface densities increased with serum IgE to a significantly stronger degree on basophils compared to cDC2s. By contrast, in allergic subjects FcεRI/IgE surface densities increased with serum IgE to a slightly stronger degree on cDC2s compared to basophils. In addition, the data set suggests sequential loading of IgE onto FcεRI expressed by these cells (basophils>cDC2s>pDCs). Finally, HDM SCIT induced a temporary increase in serum IgE, which was paralleled by a peak in FcεRI and IgE on DCs, but not on basophils. CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides a comprehensive insight into the relation between serum IgE and FcεRI/IgE on basophils and DC subsets. The novel finding that HDM SCIT induces a temporary increase in FcεRI expression on DCs, but not on basophils, can be an incentive for future research on the potential tolerogenic role of IgE/FcεRI signalling in DCs in the setting of allergen immunotherapy.

The response to nasal allergen provocation with grass pollen is reduced in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and grass sensitization.

BACKGROUND: The majority of grass pollen-sensitized rhinitis patients develops allergic symptoms when exposed to the causal allergen and shows a positive nasal allergen provocation test (NAPT). Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) patients, also characterized by eosinophilic inflammation and local IgE production, can suffer from comorbid inhalant allergy, but may show a different response to allergens. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the allergic response to grass pollen allergens by NAPT in grass pollen-sensitized CRSwNP patients. METHODS: Twelve grass pollen-sensitized CRSwNP patients underwent NAPT with grass pollen and were compared with 12 grass pollen allergic rhinitis patients, 12 control patients and 12 CRSwNP patients without grass pollen sensitization. A positive NAPT was based on change in nasal airflow and symptoms. Further, VAS scores of different symptoms were noted before and after NAPT. Biomarkers such as total IgE, grass pollen-specific IgE and tryptase were measured in serum and nasal secretions. RESULTS: NAPT was positive in 6 of 12 of the grass pollen-sensitized CRSwNP patients, and another four patients developed allergic symptoms not fulfilling the criteria of positivity. In contrast, all patients with allergic rhinitis developed a positive provocation test, whereas in the control group one of the patients and in the non-sensitized CRSwNP group two of the patients developed a positive provocation test. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results show that allergen exposure induces an attenuated clinical response in patients with CRSwNP and sensitization to grass pollen as compared with grass pollen allergic rhinitis patients.

Calcineurin inhibitors dampen humoral immunity by acting directly on naive B cells.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), used frequently in solid organ transplant patients, are known to inhibit T cell proliferation, but their effect on humoral immunity is far less studied. Total and naive B cells from healthy adult donors were cultured in immunoglobulin (Ig)A- or IgG/IgE-promoting conditions with increasing doses of cyclosporin, tacrolimus, rapamycin or methylprednisolone. The effect on cell number, cell division, plasmablast differentiation and class-switching was tested. To examine the effect on T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation, naive CD4(+) T cells were cultured with interleukin (IL)-12 and titrated immunosuppressive drug (IS) concentrations. Total B cell function was not affected by CNI. However, naive B cell proliferation was inhibited by cyclosporin and both CNI decreased plasmablast differentiation. Both CNI suppressed IgA, whereas only cyclosporin inhibited IgE class-switching. Rapamycin had a strong inhibitory effect on B cell function. Strikingly, methylprednisolone, increased plasmablast differentiation and IgE class-switching from naive B cells. Differentiation of Tfh cells decreased with increasing IS doses. CNI affected humoral immunity directly by suppressing naive B cells. CNI, as well as rapamycin and methylprednisolone, inhibited the in-vitro differentiation of Tfh from naive CD4(+) T cells. In view of its potent suppressive effect on B cell function and Tfh cell differentiation, rapamycin might be an interesting candidate in the management of B cell mediated complications post solid organ transplantation.

Raised immunoglobulin A and circulating T follicular helper cells are linked to the development of food allergy in paediatric liver transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant food allergy (LTFA) is increasingly observed after paediatric liver transplantation (LT). Although the immunopathology of LTFA remains unclear, immunoglobulin (Ig) E seems to be implicated. OBJECTIVE: To study humoral and cellular immunity in paediatric LT patients in search for factors associated with LTFA, and compare with healthy controls (HC) and non-transplant food-allergic children (FA). METHODS: We studied serum Ig levels in 29 LTFA, 43 non-food-allergic LT patients (LTnoFA), 21 FA patients and 36 HC. Serum-specific IgA and IgE against common food allergens in LTFA, IgA1 , IgA2 and joining-chain-containing polymeric IgA (pIgA) were measured. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analysed by flow cytometry for B and T cell populations of interest. RESULTS: Serum IgA and specific IgA were higher in LTFA compared to LTnoFA. LTFA patients had the highest proportion of circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh). The percentage of cTfh correlated positively with serum IgA. Unique in LTFA was also the significant increase in serum markers of mucosal IgA and the decrease in the Th17 subset of CXCR5(-) CD4(+) cells compared to HC. Both LT patients exhibited a rise in IgA(+) memory B cells and plasmablasts compared to HC and FA. CONCLUSIONS: LT has an impact on humoral immunity, remarkably in those patients developing FA. The increase in serum markers of mucosal IgA, food allergen-specific IgA and cTfh cells observed in LTFA, point towards a disturbance in intestinal immune homoeostasis in this patient group.

Local receptor revision and class switching to IgE in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (NP) and allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by local Th2 inflammation and up-regulation of IgE; however, IgE in NP is 'polyclonal' and allergen specific, whereas IgE in AR is 'oligoclonal' and allergen specific. Germinal center (GC) reactions occur in AR, while only the formation of GC-like structures in NP is described. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of local IgE production, class switch recombination, and receptor revision in NP. METHODS: We compared the levels of local IgE, germline gene transcripts, and mature Ig mRNA expression, recombination activating gene (RAG1 and RAG2), key markers of Th2 inflammation, and GC reactions in NP tissue vs AR and control tissue. Nasal mucosa was immunostained for the co-expression of RAG1 and RAG2 in B cells, plasma cells, and T cells, using dual or triple immunofluorescence (IF). RESULTS: In NP, local IgE level and key markers of local class switching are increased compared with AR and normal controls (NC). In NP, switch circle transcripts reveal ongoing local class switch recombination to IgE. Up to 30% of B cells, plasma cells, and T cells in nasal polyps re-express both RAG1 and RAG2, required for receptor revision. RAG1 and RAG2 mRNA concentrations are increased in NP and correlated with the magnitude of inflammation and the presence of S. aureus enterotoxin (superantigen)-specific IgE in the nasal polyp mucosa. CONCLUSION: Our results provide the first evidence of local receptor revision and class switching to IgE, and B-cell differentiation into IgE-secreting plasma cells in NP.

Inflammation and remodelling patterns in early stage chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: A distinct set of inflammatory and remodelling factors have been found elevated in chronic rhinosinusitis. OBJECTIVE: The investigation of their expression in early stage disease may reveal early events in this common disease. METHODS: Sinonasal mucosal samples from nine patients with early stage CRSsNP were taken from the inferior and middle turbinates, the uncinate process, maxillary sinus, anterior ethmoid, bulla ethmoidalis and the posterior ethmoid and measured for TGF-beta 1 and it's receptors, MPO protein as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta) and the Th1 cell signature (IFN-gamma and T-bet). As outcome parameter for TGF-beta signalling collagen deposition was analysed. Inferior turbinates from patients undergoing (rhino-) septoplasty were collected as controls. RESULTS: TGF-beta 1 protein concentrations were significantly increased in the maxillary sinuses (P = 0.006), the uncinate process (P = 0.01), the anterior ethmoid including the bulla ethmoidalis (P = 0.005) and the posterior ethmoid (P = 0.037) when compared to the inferior and middle turbinates. Collagen deposition was significantly increased in the maxillary sinus when compared to the inferior turbinates (P = 0.008). In contrast, mRNA for TGF-beta receptors, Th1 related markers (IFN-gamma and T-bet), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha), and MPO protein as neutrophil marker were expressed at all locations but showed no significant differences between the various locations. TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression in inferior turbinates of CRSsNP was significantly higher when compared to inferior turbinates of controls (P = 0.017). The pro-inflammatory cytokines and Th1-related cytokines did not show an upregulation in inferior turbinates of CRSsNP when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: In early stage chronic sinus disease, TGF-beta protein is expressed in significantly higher concentrations within the paranasal sinuses when compared to turbinates, whereas pro-inflammatory, neutrophilic and Th1 markers did not show any difference. These findings suggest that TGF-beta plays a central role in the initiation of CRSsNP, and represents a major target for further research and future intervention.

Local free light chain expression is increased in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Free light chain (FLC) concentrations are demonstrated to be increased in different inflammatory disorders and are proposed to mediate mast cell-dependent immune responses. A role for mast cells is suggested in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), which is characterized by a local Th2 inflammatory response. However, clear mast cell-activating factors are not always apparent. In this study, the presence of FLCs in CRS patients with or without nasal polyps (CRSw/sNP) was investigated and the effect of different treatments on FLC expression was analyzed. METHODS: Nasal tissue, nasal secretion, and serum of control patients, patients with CRSwNP, and CRSsNP were analyzed for the presence of kappa and lambda FLC. The expression of FLCs in nasal polyp tissue was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In addition, FLC was measured in serum and nasal secretion of nasal polyp patients treated with methylprednisolone, doxycycline, anti-IL-5, or placebo. RESULTS: Free light chain concentrations were increased in nasal secretion and mucosal tissue homogenates in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and this effect was most prominent in CRSwNP patients. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the increased FLC concentrations in nasal polyp tissue. In CRSwNP patients, treatment with methylprednisolone or anti-IL-5 resulted in the reduction in systemic or local FLC concentrations, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of FLC in CRSwNP and CRSsNP suggests a possible role in mediating the local immune reaction in the paranasal cavities. Furthermore, the decrease in local FLCs after treatment with anti-IL-5 presumes that IL-5 creates an environment that favors FLC production.