Dupilumab Alleviates IL-13-Induced Nasal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Regulating Claudin-10 Expression

Nasal epithelial barrier impairment is a crucial pathology in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the mechanisms driving tight junctions (TJs) disruption remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the role of IL-13 in TJs breakdown and epithelial remodeling, and to evaluate whether dupilumab can restore epithelial integrity under Type-2 inflammatory conditions.

Differentially expressed TJs-related genes were identified by integrating the GSE136825 dataset with clinical samples from 23 healthy controls and 73 CRSwNP patients. The effects of IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-17A, and dupilumab on epithelial barrier function and claudin-10 (CLDN10) expression were investigated in seven human nasal epithelial cells using transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), RT-qPCR, WB, and immunofluorescence. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Spearman's rank correlation.

CLDN10 was identified as the most significantly downregulated TJs in CRSwNP and negatively correlated with eosinophil infiltration (r = -0.4414, p < 0.0001). In vitro, IL-13 markedly reduced CLDN10 and TER levels, and induced epithelial remodeling with fewer club cells and ciliated cells and more goblet cells (all p < 0.05). Additionally, dupilumab effectively mitigated IL-13-induced CLDN10 loss, restored barrier integrity, and normalized epithelial alarmins, including IL-25 and TSLP expression (all p < 0.05).

IL-13-driven Type-2 inflammation disrupts nasal epithelial barrier integrity by downregulating CLDN10 and altering epithelial cell differentiation. Dupilumab counteracts these effects by restoring CLDN10 expression and epithelial barrier function, highlighting CLDN10 as a crucial mediator of barrier dysfunction and a potential therapeutic target in CRSwNP.