The USP7-STAT3-granzyme-Par-1 axis regulates allergic inflammation by promoting differentiation of IL-5-producing Th2 cells

Uncontrolled type 2 immunity by type 2 helper T (Th2) cells causes intractable allergic diseases; however, whether the interaction of CD4+ T cells shapes the pathophysiology of allergic diseases remains unclear. We identified a subset of Th2 cells that produced the serine proteases granzyme A and B early in differentiation. Granzymes cleave protease-activated receptor (Par)-1 and induce phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), resulting in the enhanced production of IL-5 and IL-13 in both mouse and human Th2 cells. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) regulates IL-4-induced phosphorylation of STAT3, resulting in granzyme production during Th2 cell differentiation. Genetic deletion of Usp7 or Gzma and pharmacological blockade of granzyme B ameliorated allergic airway inflammation. Furthermore, PAR-1+ and granzyme+ Th2 cells were colocalized in nasal polyps from patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis. Thus, the USP7-STAT3-granzymes-Par-1 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for intractable allergic diseases.

Differences in the expression of multidrug resistance proteins in chronic rhinosinusitis according to endotype

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease of the nasal cavity and is classified into two major endotypes, which are neutrophilic and eosinophilic. Some patients with neutrophilic and eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis are refractory to treatment, and the mechanism of drug resistance is not completely understood.

METHODS

Nasal polyp samples were collected from patients with non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (nECRS) and eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS). Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed simultaneously. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was conducted to extract genes involved in drug resistance. Then, GO analysis results were validated via real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analysis.

RESULTS

The nasal polyps of patients with ECRS were enriched with 110 factors in the genes and 112 in the proteins, unlike in those of patients with nECRS. GO analysis on the combined results of both showed that the factors involved in extracellular transportation were enriched. Our analysis focused on multidrug resistance protein 1-5 (MRP1-5). Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the MRP4 expression was significantly upregulated in ECRS polyps. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the MRP3 and MRP4 expressions significantly increased in nECRS and ECRS, respectively. MRP3 and MRP4 expressions were positively correlated with the number of neutrophil and eosinophil infiltrates in polyps and associated with the tendency to relapse in patients with ECRS.

CONCLUSIONS

MRP is associated with treatment resistance and is expressed in nasal polyps. The expression pattern had different features based on chronic rhinosinusitis endotype. Therefore, drug resistance factors can be associated with therapeutic outcomes.