Antigen-specific activities of CD8+ T cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with nasal allergy.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of chronic rhinitis is increasing rapidly. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood but immune inflammation is one plausible causative factor. Antigen specific CD8+ T cells play a critical role in the induction of chronic inflammation. This study aims to investigate the role of antigen specific CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of chronic AR.

METHODS

Nasal mucosal epithelial samples obtained by the surface of the nasal mucosaof patients with AR complicated with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Exosomes were purified from the scratching samples and examined by immune gold electron microscopy. Cell culture models were employed to evaluate the effect of exosomes on modulating CD8+ T cell activity.

RESULTS

Exosomes purified from patients with chronic AR carried microbial products, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and airborne antigen, Derp1. Dendritic cells pulsed by SEB/Derp1-carrying exosomes showed high levels of CD80, CD86 and the major histocompatibility class I (MHCI). Exosome-pulsed dendritic cells could induce naive CD3+ T cells to differentiate into CD8+ T cells. Upon exposure to a specific antigen, the CD8+ T cells released granzyme B and perforin and more than 30% antigen specific CD8+ T cells proliferated.

CONCLUSIONS

Antigen specific CD8+ T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic AR complicated with inferior turbinate hypertrophy.