Patient-derived 3D nasal spheroids reveal epithelial changes following Dupilumab therapy in CRSwNP: a preliminary report
ABSTRACT Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a type 2 inflammatory disease associated with epithelial dysfunction and impaired mucosal barrier integrity. Dupilumab, an IL-4 receptor alpha antagonist, has shown clinical efficacy, but its cellular effects on nasal epithelium remain poorly understood. Advanced in vitro models such as 3D spheroid cultures may provide insight into epithelial organization under treatment. We conducted a preliminary study using nasal epithelial cells obtained from three patient groups: CRSwNP treated with Dupilumab for 16 weeks (n = 3), untreated CRSwNP (n = 3), and turbinate hypertrophy controls (n = 3). Cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured in ultra-low attachment plates using sphere-promoting medium to assess spheroid formation. Observations were performed using phase-contrast microscopy. Due to the limited sample size, data were analyzed qualitatively without statistical testing. Control cells formed compact spheroids, while untreated CRSwNP cells failed to generate structured spheroids, showing only aggregates. Cells from Dupilumab-treated patients produced well-organized spheroids, suggesting improved epithelial organization. Occasional surface movement was observed but not quantitatively assessed. No molecular or ultrastructural assays were performed to confirm mechanistic hypotheses. Our preliminary findings indicate that Dupilumab treatment may be associated with improved epithelial organization in CRSwNP, as shown by spheroid formation in 3D culture. However, these observations are preliminary and based on a small cross-sectional cohort. Future studies should include longitudinal sampling, functional assays, and molecular analyses to confirm mechanisms and validate these results.
- Research Article
76
- 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.03.023
- Mar 27, 2019
- The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Dupilumab improves patient-reported outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and comorbid asthma
- Research Article
93
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.12.1092
- Mar 15, 2014
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Basophils are elevated in nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without aspirin sensitivity
- Research Article
47
- 10.1002/alr.22851
- May 31, 2021
- International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
Multidisciplinary consensus on a stepwise treatment algorithm for management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
- Front Matter
6
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.001
- Mar 15, 2022
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Fevipiprant in CRSwNP and comorbid asthma: Wrong target population or wrong PGD2 receptor?
- Discussion
1
- 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.08.018
- Nov 1, 2017
- The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Reply
- Abstract
1
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.12.1140
- Feb 1, 2008
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
B cell-activating Factor of the TNF Family (BAFF) and a Proliferation-inducing Ligand (APRIL) Expression in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
- Research Article
181
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.06.063
- Sep 14, 2016
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Heterogeneous inflammatory patterns in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps in Chicago, Illinois
- Research Article
29
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.10.050
- Jan 11, 2018
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Nasal IL-25 predicts the response to oral corticosteroids in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
- Research Article
9
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.014
- Oct 1, 2015
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Critical link between glycogen synthase kinase 3β and forkhead box P3 in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
- Discussion
2
- 10.1111/cea.12499
- Mar 19, 2015
- Clinical & Experimental Allergy
Profiling the immunological characteristics of exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
- Research Article
1
- 10.15789/1563-0625-sol-2479
- Jul 13, 2022
- Medical Immunology (Russia)
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects 5-12% of the world’s adult population. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) accounts for 25-30% of all cases of CRS. CRSwNP-associated inflammatory process in nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses depends on the characteristics of local immunity, including expression of a number of cytokines. The aim of this work was to investigate the parameters of local immunity in various clinical forms of CRSwNP. In this work, the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e., interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-8, antimicrobial function of neutrophils from the nasal cavity was evaluated, along with histological and immunohistochemical studies of polyposis tissue. The study included 4 groups of patients: a control group of practically healthy individuals, patients with CRSwNP, clinical cases with chronic purulent rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (CPRSwNP), and patients with CRSwNP complicated by bronchial asthma (CRSwNP + BA), including the cases with asthmatic triad (CRSwNP + intolerance to NSAIDs + BA). The patients were classified on the basis of their clinical characteristics and severity of the course of the disease. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-8 concentrations in nasal secretions were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To assess functional activity of neutrophils, a lysosomal cationic test was used on the smears from mucous surface of inferior turbinate. Histological examination of the polypous tissue biopsies was performed in slices stained with Carazzi’s hematoxylin and eosin. IL-1β and IL-8 location in the polypous tissue were detected by indirect immunohistochemistry. In all groups of the patients, IL-1β and IL-8 concentrations exceeded those in the control group. The levels of IL-1β in the groups with CPRSwNP, CRSwNP + BA were significantly increased as compared with the CRSwNP group. IL-8 concentrations in the CRSwNP and CPRSwNP groups were significantly higher than in the CRSwNP + BA group. When analyzing antimicrobial function of neutrophils, the decreased average values of cytochemical coefficient were shown in CPRSwNP and CRSwNP + BA groups, compared with the control group and CRSwNP. In all clinical forms of CPMS, complex histopathological changes were observed, including leukocyte infiltration, fibrosis, edema, and collagen depositions. In addition, the integrity of epithelial layer was found to be damaged in polyposis, epithelial metaplasia is detected as well as increased mucus production. These disorders lead to a decrease in muco-ciliary clearance in nasal cavity. The most significant pathomorphological changes occur in CRSwNP + BA, especially in cases of asthmatic triad. According to immunohistochemical data, in various forms of CRSwNP, IL-1β- and IL-8-positive leukocytes, predominantly macrophages, are detected in the polypous tissue both subepithelially and in the connective tissue stroma of the polyps. Changed concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in nasal secretion of the patients, altered antimicrobial activity of mucosal neutrophils, and characteristic pathomorphological disorders in polypous tissue of patients with CRSwNP are associated with severity of inflammatory process and clinical course of the disease. The results obtained are essential to understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis in various subgroups of CRSwNP, assessing severity of the disease and efficiency of the treatment applied.
- Research Article
16
- 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.08.015
- Sep 29, 2013
- Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 expression is diminished in sinonasal tissues from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
- Research Article
6
- 10.15789/1563-0625-tgf-2365
- Mar 10, 2022
- Medical Immunology (Russia)
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSP) is a heterogenous disease. We have earlier detected differences in severity of clinical manifestations, cellular infiltration degree shown in nasal polyps, of eosinophil-to-neutrophil ratio, efficacy of intranasal glucocorticosteroid baseline therapy, and various inflammatory patterns for several cytokines on the mRNA expression level in different phenotypes with isolated CRSP cases, CRSP associated with respiratory allergy (RA), or non-allergic bronchial asthma.The purpose of this work was to study the cytokines of TGF-â family in the tissues of nasal polyps in patients with different CRSP phenotypes. The research involved 292 patients suffering from CRSP divided into 3 phenotypic groups. Group I consisted of patients with isolated CRSP free of associated BA and/or sensitization to atopic allergens. Group II included patients with CRSP combined with respiratory allergy and was further divided into two subgroups. I.e., Group 2a comprised patients with CRSP, allergic BA (aBA), and allergic rhinitis (AR), while the patients with CRSP, AR, and non-allergic BA were placed to the group 2b. The patients suffering from CRSP complicated with non-allergic BA were allocated to the group III. The patients with hypertrophic rhinitis served as control. The levels of TGF-â1, TGF-â2, and TGF-â3 proteins (pg/mg) were measured by means of multiplex immunoassay approach in supernates of tissue homogenates from nasal polyps removed by surgery, and in posterior parts of inferior nasal conchae. The total protein level was determined in tissue supernatant, with cytokine contents recalculated for the mg/ml protein concentration for standardization of measurements.In the control group, trace concentrations of all three growth factors were detected. Significant difference in protein contents was found for the studied cytokines, depending on CRSP phenotype. The levels of TGF-â1 and TGF-â2 were statistically lower in isolated CRSP than in other groups of comorbid CRSP patients. TGF-â1 and TGF-â2 concentrations were significantly lower in CRSP + allergic BA group IIa than in CRSP + nonallergic BA and CRSP + RA groups. The amount of TGF-â3 cytokine was maximal in CRSP + non-allergic BA group III compared to the patients with isolated CRSP of group I and CRSP + non-allergic BA group 2a.Conclusions.The high level of all three TGF-â isoforms in patients with CRSP compared to the control group suggested a high potential of mucous membranes of paranasal sinuses for active tissue remodeling followed by nasal polype formation.Different mechanisms were presumed for development of local pathological process in different clinical phenotypes of CRSP, depending on the comorbid pathology, especially, BA or respiratory disorders.Minimal TGF-â1 and TGF-â2 levels were detected in isolated CRSP.The highest concentrations of TGF-â1, TGF-â2, and TGF-â3 were discovered in the patients with CRSP accompanied by non-allergic BA as compared to the groups with isolated CRSP and CRSP+allergic BA.5. Determination of TGF-â1, TGF-â2, and TGF-â3 levels can serve as an additional criterion for differentiating between the mechanisms of mucous membrane damage in local pathological process in tissues of comorbid patients with different CRSP phenotypes.
- Front Matter
- 10.1016/j.anai.2022.05.012
- Jul 23, 2022
- Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Biologics for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: What should we do now without direct comparison trials?
- Research Article
6
- 10.1111/all.16600
- Jun 1, 2025
- Allergy
Nasal microbiota composition of patients with diffuse type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is altered compared to healthy individuals. Dupilumab, an anti-IL-4Rα-mAb, modulates type 2 inflammation, but the effect on microbiota composition in CRSwNP is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal effects of dupilumab on the nasal passage and gastrointestinal microbiota in patients with diffuse type 2 CRSwNP. Twenty-seven patients with diffuse type 2 CRSwNP treated with dupilumab 300 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks, 10 untreated patients with CRSwNP, and 11 healthy controls were included. Nasal and stool samples were collected at Days 0, 28, 90, and 180 posttreatment of the treated CRSwNP group and at Days 0 and 28 of untreated CRSwNP and healthy controls. The samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (V3/V4). In CRSwNP patients, the most abundant genera in nasal passage microbiota were Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus. Cutibacterium and Lawsonella were less abundant in CRSwNP at baseline compared to healthy controls. Dupilumab treatment was associated with increased relative abundances in the nasal passage of genera such as Lawsonella, Corynebacterium, and Dolosigranulum. Microbial diversity of the gastrointestinal microbiota in CRSwNP at baseline was significantly higher than in healthy controls. There were no changes in gastrointestinal microbiota during dupilumab treatment. Dupilumab treatment was associated with a shift in the nasal passage bacterial microbiota toward that of healthy controls, whereas the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota did not change. These findings suggest that nasal passage microbiota composition is influenced by the underlying inflammatory endotype.