Tissue-resident memory T cells exhibit phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous in human physiological and pathological nasal mucosa.

Pathogens commonly enter mucosal barrier tissues and tissue-resident memory T cells (T RM) are essential for preventing mucosal lesions. However, the immunological properties of T RM cells in nasal mucosa are poorly known. In comparison with control tissues, decreasing CD103+ T RM cells were observed in Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) and sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP), which presented high capability to produce effector cytokines. In CRSwNPs, we found that CD103+ T RM cells with higher cytokine and Granzyme B coexpressed high PD-1, CD103− T RM cells expressed higher IL-10. Homogenates isolated from CRSwNPs induced CD103 expression on peripheral T cells which could be inhibited by blocking TGF-β. The frequencies of CD103+ T RM cells in CRSwNPs were extremely negatively correlated with neutrophil infiltration. CD103+ T RM cells from Staphylococcus aureus positive CRSwNPs had a stronger response to SEB. Taken together, two phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets of T RM cells exist in nasal tissues and play critical roles in the progress of CRSwNPs and SNIPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]