J Rhinol.  2010 Nov;17(2):92-96.

Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Staphylococcus Aureus Exotoxin in Nasal Polyposis

• Hwang SH
• Kim BG
• Kim SW
• Cho JH
• Shin JH
• Kang JM

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Superantigens such as Staphylococcus aureus exotoxin (SE) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (NP). The aim of this study was to determine the immunologic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to staphylococcal exotoxin B (SEB) in patients with NP.
METHODS
The interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) responses of PBMCs to nonspecific mitogens such as phylohemagglutin (PHA) and SEB were examined in 24 NP patients and 16 control subjects. The presence or absence of atopy and asthma was determined to evaluate the correlation of these conditions with the levels of cytokines.
RESULTS
PBMCs from the NP patients were more likely to produce IL-4 and IL-5 in response to SEB than those from controls. There was no difference in the mitogen-induced cytokine responses between NP patients and controls. SEB-induced IL-5 and IL-4 levels were higher in patients with NP with asthma than in patients with NP without asthma.
CONCLUSION
Patients with NP show an exaggerated Th2 cytokine response of PBMCs to SEB.

Keyword

Nasal polyposis; Staphylococcus aureus exotoxin; Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Exotoxins
Humans
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Mitogens
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus aureus
Superantigens
Exotoxins
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Mitogens
Superantigens