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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae
Published on: January 17, 2014
Immunoglobulin E to staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins in patients with chronic sinusitis/nasal polyposis
Anju Tripathi1, David B Conley, Leslie C Grammer
1Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair, Suite 15-200, Chicago, IL 60611, U.S.A.
Background:
The role of infectious agents and their contribution to the inflammation in chronic sinusitis/nasal polyposis (CS/NP) is not clear. Staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins have superantigen activity and have been implicated in inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and asthma.
Objective:
We investigated the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies to staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins in the serum of individuals with CS/NP.
Method:
IgE antibodies to staphylococcal exotoxins, A, B, and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A, B, and C were measured in 23 individuals with CS/NP before functional endoscopic sinus surgery and in controls (7 atopic and 6 nonatopic) individuals without chronic sinusitis. Presence of IgE to the toxins was also correlated with disease severity on sinus computed tomography (CT) scans.
Results:
Staphylococcal and streptococcal toxin specific IgE antibodies were detected in 18 of 23 (78%) and 7 of 21 (33.3%) patients, respectively. None of the controls had IgE to the staphylococcal or streptococcal toxins (P <.0001). There was no association between radiographic severity of sinus disease and the presence of IgE antibody to the toxins.
Conclusion:
A significantly greater proportion of CS/NP patients had IgE to staphylococcal or streptococcal toxins. Evidence of IgE antibodies directed against staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins in the sera of patients with CS/NP suggests a potential role of these toxins with established superantigen effects in the pathogenesis of CS/NP.
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