Parallel comparison of T cell and B cell subpopulations of adenoid hypertrophy and tonsil hypertrophy of children

Z Zihui Yu Z Ziying Xu T Tongtong Fu S Shiyu Liu J Jinghua Cui B Bing Zhang J Jieqiong Liang C Chong Pang Y Yuehua Ke R Ruikun Wang Z Zhijie Tang Y Yagang Gao B Bing Du Y Yanling Feng (Clinical Translational Research Center, Shengjing Hospital, Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Science, Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) H Hanqing Zhao (MOE Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, MOE Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, School of Pharmacy) G Guanhua Xue C Chao Yan L Lin Gan J Junxia Feng Z Zheng Fan Y Yang Yang L Lijuan Huang S Shuo Zhao S Sun Ying Q Qinglong Gu J Jing Yuan

Abstract

Abstract The adenoids and tonsils are important immune organs of the nasopharynx that often become hypertrophic in childhood because of recurrent pathogen infection. However, the differences in the immune microenvironment of adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and tonsil hypertrophy (TH) are unclear. Here, we show the epidemiological characteristics and peripheral blood cell indices of 1209 pediatric patients (1–15 years old) diagnosed with AH, and find that AH is often accompanied by TH and characterized by specific changes in immune cell types. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis show that 12 paired AH and TH samples contain large numbers of B, T cells and some exhausted effector memory CD4+ T cells. Compared with matched TH, AH have more naïve B cells and regulatory CD4+ T cells and less plasma B cells. Weaker antigen presentation and more significant immunosuppression are also observed in AH. In contrast, the number and cytotoxicity of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells decrease with AH grade. These findings will help our understanding of the immune response to nasopharyngeal infection.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published April 14, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (26)

Z

Zihui Yu

Z

Ziying Xu

T

Tongtong Fu

S

Shiyu Liu

J

Jinghua Cui

B

Bing Zhang

J

Jieqiong Liang

C

Chong Pang

Y

Yuehua Ke

R

Ruikun Wang

Z

Zhijie Tang

Y

Yagang Gao

B

Bing Du

Y

Yanling Feng

Clinical Translational Research Center, Shengjing Hospital, Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Science, Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

H

Hanqing Zhao

MOE Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, MOE Innovative Center for New Drug Development of Immune Inflammatory Diseases, School of Pharmacy

G

Guanhua Xue

C

Chao Yan

L

Lin Gan

J

Junxia Feng

Z

Zheng Fan

Y

Yang Yang

L

Lijuan Huang

S

Shuo Zhao

S

Sun Ying

Q

Qinglong Gu

J

Jing Yuan