Infiltration pattern of gammadelta T cells and its association with local inflammatory response in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis

• Published in: International forum of allergy & rhinology Vol. 9; no. 11; pp. 1318 - 1326
• Main Authors: Yang, Qintai, Li, Chunwei, Wang, Weihao, Zheng, Rui, Huang, Xuekun, Deng, Huiyi, Jin, Peng, Tan, Kaisen, Yan, Yan, Wang, Deyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Allergic rhinitis; CD8 antigen; Cell differentiation; Chemokines; Epithelium; Forkhead protein; Foxp3 protein; gammadelta T cells; Gene expression; Helper cells; Immune response; Immunohistochemistry; Immunoregulation; Immunosurveillance; infiltration pattern; Inflammation; Innate immunity; Interferon; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 17; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Leukocytes (neutrophilic); local inflammatory response; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Mucosa; mucosa inflammation; Neutrophils; Nose; Polymerase chain reaction; Respiratory tract; Respiratory tract diseases; mucosa inflammation; gammadelta T cells; allergic rhinitis; local inflammatory response; infiltration pattern
• ISSN: 2042-6976; 2042-6984; 2042-6984
• DOI: 10.1002/alr.22421

Background gammadelta (γδ) T cells play important roles in allergic lower airway inflammation. However, little is known about their infiltration pattern in the nasal mucosa during upper airway inflammation. This study investigated γδ T cell distribution in nasal tissues of allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and the relationship between γδ T cells and other inflammatory cell types. Methods A total of 30 patients with septal deviation were examined, including 22 with and 8 without AR. The localization of γδ T cells and other cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages, B cells, cluster of differentiation [CD]4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, regulatory T cells [Tregs], interferon [IFN]‐γ+ cells, interleukin [IL]17+ cells, and IL10+ cells) was evaluated by histological analysis and immunohistochemistry. T helper cell (Th)1/Th2/Th17 and Treg gene expression was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results γδ T cells were localized in the epithelium or subepithelial region of nasal mucosa, and their infiltration was higher in AR patients relative to control subjects. The number of γδ T cells was associated with the presence of eosinophils, macrophages, mast cells, B cells, CD8+ T cells, Forkhead box (Fox)p3+ Tregs, IL17+ cells, and IL10+ cells but not of neutrophils or IFN‐γ+ cells. The messenger RNA (mRNA) level of a γδ T cell subunit was positively correlated with those of Th1 genes (T‐bet and IFN‐γ), Th2 cytokine (C‐C motif chemokine ligand 18), and Treg genes (Foxp3 and IL10). Conclusion γδ T cells play multiple roles in mucosal inflammation in AR including immune surveillance and adaptive and innate immune responses.