Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are recruited to the nasal mucosa in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by tissue eosinophilia and mast cell activation, including abundant production of prostaglandin D (PGD). Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), which promote tissue eosinophilia and mast cell responses, undergo chemotaxis and cytokine production in response to PGD, but it is unknown whether ILC2s are active in patients with AERD.

Objective: We sought to determine whether ILC2 numbers change in peripheral blood and the nasal mucosa during COX-1 inhibitor-induced reactions in patients with AERD.

Methods: Blood and nasal scrapings were collected at baseline, during reactions, and after completion of ketorolac/aspirin challenge/desensitization in 12 patients with AERD. ILC2s and eosinophils were quantitated by means of flow cytometry. Urine was also collected, and quantification of PGD metabolite and leukotriene E levels was done by using ELISA. Baseline and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug reaction clinical data were correlated with cell changes.

Results: ILC2 numbers significantly increased in nasal mucosal samples and decreased in blood at the time of COX-1 inhibitor reactions in 12 patients with AERD. These changes were not observed in 2 patients without AERD. Furthermore, eosinophil numbers decreased in blood concurrently with significant increases in urinary PGD metabolite and leukotriene E levels. The magnitude of increases in nasal mucosal ILC2 numbers positively correlated with maximum symptom scores during challenges. Furthermore, blood ILC2 numbers during the reaction correlated with time for the reaction to resolve, possibly reflecting reaction severity.

Conclusions: ILC2s are recruited to the nasal mucosa during COX-1 inhibitor-induced reactions in patients with AERD, correlating with enhanced production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.