Abstract
In line with the pathophysiological continuum described between nose and bronchus in allergic respiratory diseases, we assessed whether nasal epithelium could mirror the Th2 status of bronchial epithelium.
Nasal and bronchial cells were collected by brushings from patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma (AR, n=12), isolated allergic rhinitis (R, n=14) and healthy controls (C, n=13). Cellular composition was assessed by flow cytometry. Gene expression was analysed by RNA sequencing. Th2, Th17 and interferon signatures were derived from the literature.
Infiltration by polymorphonuclear neutrophils in nose excluded 30% of the initial cohort. All bronchial samples from AR group were Th2-high. Nasal samples gene expression profile from the AR group correctly predicted the paired bronchial sample Th2 status in 71% of cases. Nevertheless, nasal cells did not appear as a reliable surrogate of the Th2 response, in particular due to a more robust influence of the interferon response in 14/26 nasal samples. Th2 scores correlated with mast cells counts (p<0.001) and numbers of sensitizations (p=0.006 and 0.002), while Th17 scores correlated with PMN counts (p<0.014).
The large variability in nasal cell composition and type of inflammation restricts its use as a surrogate for assessing bronchial Th2 inflammation in AR patients.
Footnotes
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Conflict of interest: Dr. GIOVANNINI-CHAMI has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. PAQUET has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. SANFIORENZO has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. PONS has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. CAZARETH has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. MAGNONE has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. LEBRIGAND has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. CHEVALIER has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. VALLAURI has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. JULIA has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. MARQUETTE has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. MARCET has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. LEROY has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. BARBRY has nothing to disclose.
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