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Mucus T helper 2 biomarkers predict chronic rhinosinusitis disease severity and prior surgical intervention
Author(s) -
Turner Justin H.,
Li Ping,
Chandra Rakesh K.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.22160
Subject(s) - medicine , endotype , mucus , nasal polyps , disease , asthma , sinusitis , gastroenterology , chronic rhinosinusitis , immunology , ecology , biology
Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a diverse clinical syndrome with a heterogeneous pathophysiology. Early attempts to identify CRS endotypes and biomarkers have largely relied on analysis of surgically obtained tissue, thus limiting their practical utility. This study examined the ability of mucus T helper 2 (Th2) biomarkers to predict CRS disease severity and clinical characteristics. Methods CRS (n = 90) and healthy control subjects (n = 17) were prospectively enrolled prior to surgical intervention and mucus levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were determined using a multiplex cytometric bead assay. Data for relevant cytokines was then scaled, normalized, and later combined to develop standardized metrics indicative of Th2‐associated inflammation. Th2‐high and Th2‐low subgroups were consequently identified and validated against factors associated with disease severity and clinical outcomes. Results Mucus levels of IL‐5 and IL‐13 were elevated in CRS subjects compared to controls, while no significant difference was noted for IL‐4. IL‐5 and IL‐13 high CRS were associated with worse objective measures of disease severity and greater rates of revision surgery. Similar relationships were noted for both cytokines when CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients were analyzed separately. Th2‐high CRS and Th2‐low CRS were then categorized using a scaled IL‐5/IL‐13 metric. Th2‐high CRS was characterized by an increased number of subjects with nasal polyps and comorbid asthma, and worse symptom and computed tomography (CT) scores. Conclusion The Th2‐associated cytokines, IL‐5 and IL‐13, are detectable in sinonasal mucus and their levels can be used to define Th2‐high and Th2‐low CRS. Identification of Th2‐high and Th2‐low endotypes using mucus‐based biomarkers could facilitate stratification of CRS subgroups and guide personalized therapies.