Single-cell analysis pinpoints distinct populations of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and an IL-10+CD109+ TH2 cell population in nasal polyps

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Junjie Ma
  • Christopher A Tibbitt
  • Susanna Kumlien Georén
  • Murray Christian
  • Ben Murrell
  • Lars-Olaf Cardell
  • Claus Bachert
  • Coquet, Jonathan

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process often associated with comorbid asthma. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomes of single T helper (TH) cells from nasal polyps of patients with CRSwNP and validated these findings using multiparameter flow cytometry. Polyp tissue contained suppressive T regulatory (Treg) cells, TH2 cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells, and three transcriptionally distinct subsets of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (CD4+ CTL). GATA3 expression was a feature of polyp Treg cells, whereas TH2 cells highly expressed TCN1, CD200R, and HPGDS and were enriched for genes involved in lipid metabolism. Only a portion of polyp TH2 cells expressed the prostaglandin D2 receptor CRTH2, whereas a subpopulation of CD109+CRTH2- TH2 cells expressed mRNA for common inhibitor receptors including LAG3 and TIM3 and produced IL-10. Together, we resolved the complexity of TH cells in patients with CRSwNP, identifying several distinct clusters of CD4+ CTL and a population of CD109+CRTH2- TH2 cells with putative regulatory potential.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScience immunology
Volume6
Issue number62
ISSN0065-2776
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

    Research areas

  • Antigens, CD/immunology, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology, GPI-Linked Proteins/immunology, Humans, Interleukin-10/immunology, Nasal Polyps/immunology, Neoplasm Proteins/immunology, Single-Cell Analysis, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology, Th2 Cells/immunology

ID: 356968049