ACCUMULATION OF INTERFERON GAMMA-PRODUCING TH1 HELPER T-CELLS IN NASAL POLYPS

We investigated the mechanisms involved in the formation of nasal poly ps by examining T-cell clones and their production of soluble mediator s in nasal polyps. Recently, the allergic origin of nasal polyps has b een challenged. To study this question we characterized T cells from p olyp tissue of allergic individuals in terms of their cytokine pattern . Nasal polyp T cells were cloned from allergic individuals undergoing polypectomy. Polyp tissue was dispersed enzymatically, and T cells we re stimulated with mitogen and interleukin-2. Control T cells were obt ained from peripheral blood of nonallergic donors. Cytokine production of interleukin-4 and interferon was then determined by indirect enzym e-linked immunosorbent assay tests. Polyp T-cell clones were found to produce high interferon but low interleukin-4 levels that were not sig nificantly different from control peripheral blood T-cell clones. In a ddition, immunoglobulin production by dispersed polyp tissue was inves tigated. Immunoglobulin levels were higher in polyp tissues than in se rum with immunoglobulin A predominating. These results suggest that th e inflammatory reaction in nasal polyps is different than that seen in a typical type I hypersensitivity response.