Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Abnormal Metabolism of Lysophosphatidylinositol in Nasal Polyp

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is an inflammatory disease in which eosinophil (Eos) infiltration into polyp tissues is associated with disease prognosis. Our previous study found that linoleic acid is an important differential metabolite. However, lipid metabolism in nasal polyps has been insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of lipid metabolism in CRSwNP tissue.

This study employed a multi-omics approach by integrating lipidomics and single-cell transcriptomics. The lipidomics analysis was performed using nasal mucosal tissues obtained from 32 patients with nasal polyps and 20 healthy controls. The sequencing findings were validated by using immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting.

Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were the most abundant lipids expressed in the sinus mucosa, and lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) was significantly increased in the eosinophilic CRSwNP group compared to the noneosinophilic CRSwNP and the control groups. The LPI levels showed significant positive correlations with the Eos counts and percentages in nasal polyp tissue. The expressions of membrane-bound O-acyltransferase 7 and receptor G-protein coupled receptor 55 in the LPI metabolic pathway were significantly elevated in eosinophilic nasal polyps, and their expression was mainly localized to Eos in polyp tissues.

There are differences in the lipidomic patterns between healthy individuals and patients with CRSwNP. The LPI metabolic axis may be associated with Eos activation in polyp tissue. These findings could provide new insights into the pathogenesis and endotyping of CRSwNP.