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The following is a summary of “Analysis of human neutrophils from nasal polyps by single-cell RNA sequencing reveals roles of neutrophils in chronic rhinosinusitis,” published in the November 2024 issue of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by Iwasaki et al.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is marked by type 2 (T2) inflammation. Neutrophils are elevated in T2 nasal polyps (NP) and display an activated phenotype.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze the roles and heterogeneity of neutrophils in NP tissue using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq).
They developed a microwell-based scRNA-Seq assay (BD Rhapsody platform) using granulocyte-enriched samples from 5 control sinus tissues (CTs), 5 NP tissues, and patient-matched peripheral blood (PB). Gene expression was analyzed using the Benjamini-Hochberg algorithm, and function was predicted through pathway and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses.
The results showed that after QC steps, neutrophils were successfully detected. In NP neutrophils (1,151 cells), 333 genes were down-regulated, and 128 were up-regulated (>1.5-fold, q<0.05) compared to all PB neutrophils (13,591 cells). Commonly dysregulated genes in NP neutrophils, compared to both PB and CT neutrophils (3,136 cells), were associated with the innate immune system, NF-κB signaling, cytokine activity, and cellular response to oxygen-containing compounds. NP neutrophils displayed 4 clusters, suggesting potential heterogeneity in NP tissue.
The study concluded that elevated neutrophils in NP tissue existed in several subphenotypes. These subphenotypes may play key pathogenic roles in CRSwNP.
Source: jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(24)01176-X/abstract
