Interleukin-33 promotes the inflammatory reaction in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps by NF-κB signaling pathway

L. Zhang, L.-L. Jiang, Z.-W. Cao

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang Shi, Liaoning Sheng, China. caozw@sj-hospital.org

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• Otorhinolaryngology

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin (IL)-33 promotes T helper (Th2) immune response and may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Using murine and human specimens, we evaluated the role of IL-33 in CRSwNP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: To establish CRSwNP, Balb/c mice were sensitized with house dust mite, followed up by intranasal exposure to Staphylococcus aureus to stimulate the inflammatory response of nasal mucosa. The hematoxylin-eosin staining and total serum IgE were used to the successful construction of CRSwNP model. For mechanistic studies, we blocked mice with IL-33 and the Th2 cells counts in tissue were detected. Th2 cytokine expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-22, CCL-11, and CCL-24 in control group, CRSwNP group and IL-33 blockade group at 12 weeks after CRSwNP model establishment, were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-κB, MyD88 and TLR7 were detected after IL-33 blockade. To document the inflammatory response in patients with CRSwNP, The relative mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-22, CCL-11, and CCL-24 in control individuals and patients with CRSwNP (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps) were analyzed by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: The CRSwNP model was successfully constructed. After IL-33 blocked, the relative expression of IL-33 and Th2 cells counts were reduced significantly. CRSwNP mice showed overproduction of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-22, CCL-11, and CCL-24 and IL-33 blockade inhibited the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-22, CCL-11, and CCL-24. Furthermore, IL-33 blockade decreased the mRNA levels of NF-κB, MyD88 and TLR7, and also restrained the protein expression of them. On the other hand, patients’ specimens with CRSwNP showed high levels of Th2 cytokines including IL-33, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-22, CCL-11, and CCL-24.

CONCLUSIONS: CRSwNP is associated with overexpression of IL-33, with subsequent activation of Th2 immune response by NF-κB signaling pathway.

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