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Complement defects in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Maria Q Gaunsbaek1, Bibi Lange, Anette D Kjeldsen
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. Maria.quisgaard@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
Insights
Complement defects are more common in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients, suggesting a role in CRS development. However, these defects do not appear to influence the severity of CRS symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otorhinolaryngology
Background:
- The complement system is crucial for immune defense, with defects increasing susceptibility to infections and autoimmune conditions.
- Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex inflammatory upper airway disease with incompletely understood pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between complement system defects and the predisposition to, or severity of, chronic rhinosinusitis.
- To analyze complement activity and component levels in CRS patients compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 87 CRS patients and 150 healthy donors were analyzed for complement pathway activity and component levels using ELISA.
- CRS diagnosis and severity were assessed using the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and nasal Polyps criteria and the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22, respectively.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher frequency of complement defects was observed in CRS patients compared to healthy controls.
- Mannan-binding lectin deficiency was prevalent among the CRS patients with complement defects.
- No correlation was found between the presence of complement defects and the severity of subjective CRS symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Defects in the complement system may collectively contribute to the immunological development of chronic rhinosinusitis.
- The study did not establish a link between complement defects and the severity of CRS symptoms.
Abstract:
The complement system is an important part of our immune system, and complement defects lead generally to increased susceptibility to infections and autoimmune diseases. We have studied the role of complement activity in relation with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and more specifically studied whether complement defects collectively predispose individuals for CRS or affect CRS severity. The participants comprised 87 CRS patients randomly selected from the general population, and a control group of 150 healthy blood donors. The CRS patients were diagnosed according to the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and nasal Polyps criteria, and severity was evaluated by the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22. Serum samples were analysed by ELISA for activity of the respective pathways of complement, and subsequently for serum levels of relevant components. We found that the frequency of complement defects was significantly higher among CRS patients than among healthy control subjects. A majority of Mannan-binding lectin deficient CRS patients was observed. The presence of complement defects had no influence on the severity of subjective symptoms. Our studies show that defects in the complement system collectively may play an immunological role related to the development of CRS. However, an association between severity of symptoms and presence of complement defects could not be demonstrated.
