Håkansson L, Heinrich C, Rak S, Venge P
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Jul;28(7):791-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00295.x.
B-lymphocytes play an important part in the allergic reaction as producers of IgE antibodies.
To investigate the cell surface expression of the activation antigens CD23, CD40 and HLA-DR on B-lymphocytes in birch pollen allergic patients before and during birch pollen season and to study the effect of immunotherapy.
The study included 24 birch pollen allergic patients half of whom were treated with immunotherapy against birch pollen before the start of the season. Eleven of the 24 patients had asthma. Blood samples were taken and lung function was registered before the season began and before the immunotherapy treatment in January to February and during the season in May. The relative number of B-lymphocytes (CD19+) of the lymphocyte population and the cell surface expression of CD23, CD40 and HLA-DR on B-lymphocytes was measured by the use of flow cytometry.
In the control group of patients the relative number and concentration of B-lymphocytes, the cell surface expression of CD23, CD40 and HLA-DR on B cells, and the serum concentration of IgE increased during season compared with before season. In contrast, in the immunotherapy treated patients no changes in the number of B cells or cell surface expression of CD23, CD40 and HLA-DR were demonstrated.
The elevated expression of CD23, CD40 and HLA-DR on B cells, combined with increased levels of IgE in allergic patients during season could be explained by the effect of cytokines produced by activated TH2 cells. A shift from TH2 to TH1 cells might be the mechanism after the absence of signs of B-cell activation in immunotherapy treated patients. The prevention of increased cell surface expression on B cells by immunotherapy may constitute a significant mechanism behind the beneficial effects of immunotherapy in the treatment of pollen atopy.
B淋巴细胞作为IgE抗体的产生者，在过敏反应中起重要作用。
研究桦树花粉过敏患者在桦树花粉季节之前及期间B淋巴细胞上活化抗原CD23、CD40和HLA-DR的细胞表面表达情况，并探讨免疫疗法的效果。
该研究纳入了24名桦树花粉过敏患者，其中一半在季节开始前接受了针对桦树花粉的免疫疗法。24名患者中有11名患有哮喘。在1月至2月季节开始前、免疫疗法治疗前以及5月季节期间采集血样并记录肺功能。通过流式细胞术检测淋巴细胞群体中B淋巴细胞（CD19+）的相对数量以及B淋巴细胞上CD23、CD40和HLA-DR的细胞表面表达。
与季节前相比，对照组患者在季节期间B淋巴细胞的相对数量和浓度、B细胞上CD23、CD40和HLA-DR的细胞表面表达以及血清IgE浓度均升高。相比之下，接受免疫疗法治疗的患者中，B细胞数量或CD23、CD40和HLA-DR的细胞表面表达未显示出变化。
过敏患者在季节期间B细胞上CD23、CD40和HLA-DR表达升高，同时IgE水平增加，这可能是由活化的TH2细胞产生的细胞因子作用所致。在接受免疫疗法治疗的患者中，B细胞活化迹象消失，其机制可能是从TH2细胞向TH1细胞的转变。免疫疗法预防B细胞表面表达增加可能是免疫疗法治疗花粉性特应性皮炎有益效果背后的一个重要机制。
