TY - JOUR
T1 - Human Leukocyte Antigen-G and Regulatory T Cells during Specific Immunotherapy for Pollen Allergy
AU - Sørensen, Anja Elaine
AU - Johnsen, Claus R
AU - Dalgaard, Louise Torp
AU - Würtzen, Peter Adler
AU - Kristensen, Bjarne
AU - Larsen, Margit Hørup
AU - Ullum, Henrik
AU - Søes-Petersen, Ulrik
AU - Hviid, Thomas Vauvert F
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background: TH2-biased immune responses are important in allergy pathogenesis. Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) might include the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 blocking antibodies, a reduction in the number of effector cells, and skewing of the cytokine profile towards a TH1-polarized immune response. We investigated the effects of SIT on T cells, on immunomodulation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, which has been associated with allergy, on regulatory cytokine expression, and on serum allergen-specific antibody subclasses (IgE and IgG4). Methods: Eleven birch and/or grass pollen-allergic patients and 10 healthy nonatopic controls were studied before and during SIT. Tregs, chemokine receptors, soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G), Ig-like transcript (ILT) 2, specific IgE, and IgG4 were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with pollen extract in vitro and immune factors were evaluated. Results: During SIT, the main changes in the peripheral blood were an increase in CXCR3+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs and a decrease in CCR4+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs, an increase in allergen-specific IgG4, and a decrease in sHLA-G during the first half of the treatment period. In the PBMC in vitro experiments, the following changes were observed upon allergen-stimulation: an increase in CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs and ILT2+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs, an increase in IL-10 and IL-2 levels, and an increase in sHLA-G that was most pronounced at the start of SIT. Conclusions: The changes in CXCR3+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Treg, IgG4, and sHLA-G levels in the peripheral blood and in ILT2+ Treg, IL-10, IL-2, and sHLA-G levels upon in vitro allergen stimulation suggest an upregulation in immunomodulatory factors and, to some degree, a shift towards TH1 during SIT.
AB - Background: TH2-biased immune responses are important in allergy pathogenesis. Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) might include the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 blocking antibodies, a reduction in the number of effector cells, and skewing of the cytokine profile towards a TH1-polarized immune response. We investigated the effects of SIT on T cells, on immunomodulation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, which has been associated with allergy, on regulatory cytokine expression, and on serum allergen-specific antibody subclasses (IgE and IgG4). Methods: Eleven birch and/or grass pollen-allergic patients and 10 healthy nonatopic controls were studied before and during SIT. Tregs, chemokine receptors, soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G), Ig-like transcript (ILT) 2, specific IgE, and IgG4 were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with pollen extract in vitro and immune factors were evaluated. Results: During SIT, the main changes in the peripheral blood were an increase in CXCR3+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs and a decrease in CCR4+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs, an increase in allergen-specific IgG4, and a decrease in sHLA-G during the first half of the treatment period. In the PBMC in vitro experiments, the following changes were observed upon allergen-stimulation: an increase in CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs and ILT2+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Tregs, an increase in IL-10 and IL-2 levels, and an increase in sHLA-G that was most pronounced at the start of SIT. Conclusions: The changes in CXCR3+CD4+CD25+CD127low/- Treg, IgG4, and sHLA-G levels in the peripheral blood and in ILT2+ Treg, IL-10, IL-2, and sHLA-G levels upon in vitro allergen stimulation suggest an upregulation in immunomodulatory factors and, to some degree, a shift towards TH1 during SIT.
U2 - 10.1159/000353281
DO - 10.1159/000353281
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24022071
SN - 1018-2438
VL - 162
SP - 237
EP - 252
JO - International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
JF - International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
IS - 3
ER -