Hypoxia regulates IL-17A secretion from nasal polyp epithelial cells

Hypoxia creates a microenvironment conducive to polypogenesis by regulating immune responses of the nasal polyp (NP) epithelium. We explored the immunocompetence of NP and control epithelial cells in response to hypoxia, to investigate potential relationships with polypogenesis. Three groups of tissue samples were collected: inferior turbinate (IT) and NP from individuals with chronic rhinosinusitis with NPs (CRSwNP), and control IT. A positive relationship was detected between HIF1 alpha, HIF2 alpha protein expression in epithelial cells and endoscope score in NP samples, while there was a negative correlation between HIF1 alpha expression and degree of eosinophil infiltration. Epithelial IL-17A expression was lower in NPs than in IT samples from either controls or patients with CRSwNP. Primary human nasal epithelial cells were cultured under hypoxic or normoxic conditions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated decreased IL-17A expression upon prolonged exposure to hypoxia in both IT and NP samples from patients with CRSwNP, while IL-17A increased in control IT epithelial cells; correlation and time-dependency were observed between HIF1 alpha and IL-17A expression in both IT and NP samples from patients with CRSwNP. These observations suggest that hypoxia is involved in the pathogenesis of NPs through regulation of IL-17A secretion and HIF1 alpha and HIF2 alpha expression in the NP epithelium.