A Retrospective Analysis of γδ T Cell Expression in Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Its Association with Recurrence of Nasal Polyps.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine whether γδ T cell is expressed in the nasal mucosa of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients and its potential association with recurrence of nasal polyps.

METHODS: Thirty-six patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and 25 patients with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) were recruited. Twenty-six patients with other nasal diseases served as controls. The CRSwNP group was divided into the eosinophilic CRSwNP and noneosinophilic CRSwNP groups. The expression of γδ T cells was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of each subtype of γδ T cells was detected by using qRT-PCR. All patients underwent nasal endoscopy, and postoperative follow-up lasted over 12 months. CRS patients were evaluated by preoperative VAS scores of symptoms and nasal endoscopy Lund-Kennedy scores.

RESULTS: The expression of γδ T cells in the CRSwNP groups was stronger than in the CRSsNP and the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The expression of Vγ1+γδ T cells in the eosinophilic CRSwNP group was higher than that in the CRSsNP group and the control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The expression of γδ T cells was associated with high rate of recurrence, tissue eosinophil infiltration, worse symptom score of nasal obstruction, and higher Lund-Kennedy score (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of γδ T cells in CRSwNP may be associated with recurrence of nasal polyps.