Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis linked to other hyper-IgE syndromes through defective TH17 responses

摘要: BackgroundIn a gene expression analysis comparing sinus mucosa samples from allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) patients with samples from non-AFRS chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) patients, the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) histatin 1 (HTN1) was found to be the most differentially downregulated gene in AFRS.ObjectiveWe sought to identify the molecular etiology of the downregulated expression of HTN1.MethodsWe used RT-PCR to compare the expression of AMPs and a fungistasis assay to evaluate the antifungal activity of sinus secretions. Using flow cytometry, we characterized the presence of TH17/TH22 cells and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling from AFRS patients, non-AFRS CRSwNP patients, and healthy controls.ResultsWe confirmed decreased expression of AMPs in AFRS sinus mucosa with concordant decrease in antifungal activity in sinus …