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) are essential for preventing mucosal lesions. However, the immunological properties of T cells in nasal mucosa are poorly known. In comparison with control tissues, decreasing CD103 T 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 cells with higher cytokine and Granzyme B coexpressed high PD-1, CD103 T 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 cells in CRSwNPs were extremely negatively correlated with neutrophil infiltration. CD103 T cells from Staphylococcus aureus positive CRSwNPs had a stronger response to SEB. Taken together, two phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets of T cells exist in nasal tissues and play critical roles in the progress of CRSwNPs and SNIPs.