# Diagnostic value of mucosal-associated invariant T+ cells combined with inflammatory factors in differentiating chronic rhinosinusitis subtypes with or without nasal polyps

## TL;DR

This study explores how mucosal-associated invariant T cells and inflammatory markers can help distinguish between two types of chronic sinusitis.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel combination of MAIT cells and inflammatory factors as potential biomarkers for differentiating chronic rhinosinusitis subtypes.

## Key findings

- MAIT+ cell frequencies were significantly lower in CRS patients compared to healthy controls.
- Combining MAIT+ cells with inflammatory markers improved diagnostic accuracy for CRS subtypes.
- CRSwNP showed the most significant decrease in MAIT+ cells compared to CRSsNP.

## Abstract

The present study attempted to analyze the effect of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) combined with inflammatory factors in identifying chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) that provides a clinical reference.

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 56 CRSsNP patients, 68 CRSwNP patients, and 64 healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of peripheral blood MAIT+ cells (MAIT+). Serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-ip, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA and automatic blood cell analyzer, and their correlations with MAIT cell alterations were analyzed. The diagnostic effect of MAIT+ combined with hs-CRP IL-ip, and IL-6 on CRS was analyzed using ROC curves.

Both CRSsNP and CRSwNP patients exhibited significantly reduced MAIT+ frequencies compared to controls (P< 0.05), with CRSwNP showing the most pronounced decrease (P < 0.0 5). MAIT+ frequency was inversely correlated with hs-CRP IL-ip, and IL-6 in CRS patients. ROC analysis demonstrated that MAIT+ effectively discriminated CRSsNP (AU C= 0.793) and CRSwNP (AU C= 0.863) from healthy individuals (P< 0.01). After combined with inflammatory factors, the diagnostic effect of MAIT+ combined inflammatory factors on CRSsNP (AU C= 0.933) and CRSwNP (AU C= 0.939) was further improved.

Detection of MAIT+ combined with inflammatory factors may provide potential biomarkers for CRS subtype identification.