The Role of Superantigen in Nasal Polypogenesis

ABSTRACT

Superantigens are potent immunostimulatory exotoxins well known to be produced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). These exotoxins have capacity to act as superantigens by binding with the variable beta(Vbeta) region of lymphocytes in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, bypassing normal antigen processing and directly stimulating a massive inflammatory response. Accumulated evidence is now convincing that S. aureus superantigens may play an important role in development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis which are thought to skew the cytokine response towards a Th2 phenotype inducing eosinophilia and the production of polycolonal IgE. This review summarizes the current evidence of characteristics and its role superantigens in pathophysiology of nasal polyposis.