变应原免疫疗法改善变应性鼻炎患者缺陷性滤泡调节性 T 细胞。

Allergen immunotherapy improves defective follicular regulatory T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis.

机构信息

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

出版信息

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 Jul;144(1):118-128. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.02.008

PMID:30796979

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The function of follicular regulatory T (T) cells, especially in regulating IgE production in patients with allergic diseases, is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate the phenotype, function, and clinical relevance of T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS

The phenotype and frequency of tonsillar and circulating T cells were characterized by using flow cytometry. T cell function was examined in an assay by coculturing with follicular helper T cells and B cells. The associations between T cells and the clinical features in patients with AR before and after allergen immunotherapy (AIT) were analyzed.

RESULTS

T cells were detected in germinal centers of tonsils, but compared with subjects without AR, the frequencies decreased in patients with AR who were allergic to house dust mites. Circulating T cells in blood were phenotypically and numerically correlated with tonsillar T cells, and a reduction of circulating T cells but not total or CXCR5 regulatory T cells was noted in patients with AR compared with healthy control subjects. Moreover, circulating T cells in patients with AR showed a specific defect in suppressing IgE production but were capable of suppressing production of other immunoglobulin types. We identified negative associations of circulating T cell frequencies and function with antigen-specific IgE levels or disease severity in patients with AR. After AIT, the frequencies and function of circulating T cells were improved, which positively associated with disease remission.

CONCLUSION

Impairment in T cells might contribute to aberrant IgE production in patients with AR, and AIT improves defective T cell function. T cells might serve as a potential biomarker to monitor clinical response to AIT.

摘要

背景

滤泡调节性 T（T）细胞的功能，尤其是在调节过敏性疾病患者 IgE 产生方面的功能，尚未被充分了解。

目的

我们旨在研究变应性鼻炎（AR）患者 T 细胞的表型、功能和临床相关性。

方法

通过流式细胞术对扁桃体和循环 T 细胞的表型和频率进行特征分析。通过与滤泡辅助性 T 细胞和 B 细胞共培养来检测 T 细胞功能。分析 AR 患者在变应原免疫治疗（AIT）前后 T 细胞与临床特征之间的关联。

结果

T 细胞在扁桃体生发中心被检测到，但与无 AR 的受试者相比，对屋尘螨过敏的 AR 患者的 T 细胞频率降低。血液中的循环 T 细胞在表型和数量上与扁桃体 T 细胞相关，与健康对照受试者相比，AR 患者的循环 T 细胞减少，但总 T 细胞或 CXCR5 调节性 T 细胞并未减少。此外，AR 患者的循环 T 细胞在抑制 IgE 产生方面存在特定缺陷，但能够抑制其他免疫球蛋白类型的产生。我们发现 AR 患者的循环 T 细胞频率和功能与抗原特异性 IgE 水平或疾病严重程度呈负相关。AIT 后，循环 T 细胞的频率和功能得到改善，且与疾病缓解呈正相关。