Assessment of local immunity markers in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and biofilms in the upper airway mucosa.

OBJECTIVE

Aim: To comprehensively evaluate local immune markers in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and without biofilms in the upper airway mucosa, and to determine pathogenetically significant immune alterations associated with biofilm presence that may contribute to chronic inflammation and reduced treatment effectiveness.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Materials and

Methods

Oropharyngeal secretion was analyzed in 20 CRS patients (with and without biofilms) and 8 healthy controls. Levels of interleukin-1β, α-interferon, secretory IgA, immune complexes, and cellular composition were evaluated. Biofilms were detected via SYTO9/propidium iodide fluorescent staining.

RESULTS

Results

CRS patients with biofilms showed significantly reduced α-interferon levels and increased concentrations of immune complexes. IL-1β and sIgA levels did not differ between CRS subgroups. All CRS patients exhibited reduced epithelial cell counts and increased neutrophil percentages.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that low α-interferon levels and high immune complex concentrations in patients with CRS and biofilms represent pathogenetically significant immune alterations. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of local and systemic immune mechanisms that support biofilm persistence and may open perspectives for more effective therapeutic strategies.