engleski

Regulatory T cells in children allergic to house dust mite undergoing specific immunotherapy

The background of the study: Regulatory T cells (Treg) are defined by their surface phenotype (CD4+CD25+CD45RO+CD69-CTLA-4+) or by their ability to secrete immunoregulatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)- beta. The aim of this study was to detect Treg in peripheral blood from children allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus undergoing specific immunotherapy (n=16, 8 boys and 8 girls, 5-12 years old, average 7 years). A control group consisted of 10 children (6 boys and 4 girls), 8-12 years old, average 9 years, which were free from manifest allergic disorders and had a negative family history of atopy. Methods: Treg were identified using four-color flow cytometry prior to, after three months, and after one year of immunotherapy. In addition, intracellular detection of IL-10 and TGF-beta in T cells was performed. The lung function (FEV1 and PEFR), specific and non-specific IgE (RAST and RIST) and eosinophils count in peripheral blood were also determined at these three time points. Results: The level of CTLA-4 expressing Tregs increased transitory after 3 months of immunotherapy. While no changes in IL-10 secreting T-cells were found, specific immunotherapy increased percentage of TGF-beta secreting T cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that analysis of CTLA-4 and TGF-beta by flow cytometry could be useful markers to monitor the effect of specific immunotherapy in allergic individuals.

allergy; T cells; immunotherapy

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