Background: The function of follicular regulatory T (T-FR) 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-FR cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: The phenotype and frequency of tonsillar and circulating T-FR cells were characterized by using flow cytometry. T-FR cell function was examined in an assay by coculturing with follicular helper T cells and B cells. The associations between T-FR cells and the clinical features in patients with AR before and after allergen immunotherapy (AIT) were analyzed. Results: T-FR 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-FR cells in blood were phenotypically and numerically correlated with tonsillar T-FR cells, and a reduction of circulating T-FR cells but not total or CXCR5(-) regulatory T cells was noted in patients with AR compared with healthy control subjects. Moreover, circulating T-FR 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-FR 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-FR cells were improved, which positively associated with disease remission. Conclusion: Impairment in T-FR cells might contribute to aberrant IgE production in patients with AR, and AIT improves defective T-FR cell function. T-FR cells might serve as a potential biomarker to monitor clinical response to AIT.
基金:
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [81570899, 81630024, 81325006, 81470677, 81429003]; Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China [2017CFA016]; "Ten thousand plan''-National High Level Talents Special Support Plan; Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) [GNT1085509]; Bellberry-Viertel Senior Medical Research fellowship; China Scholarship Council [201706160045]
第一作者单位:[1]Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Tongji Med Coll, Tongji Hosp, Dept Otolaryngol Head & Neck Surg, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, Peoples R China
通讯作者:
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Yao Yin,Wang Zhi-Chao,Wang Nan,et al.Allergen immunotherapy improves defective follicular regulatory T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis[J].JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY.2019,144(1):118-128.doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.02.008.
APA:
Yao, Yin,Wang, Zhi-Chao,Wang, Nan,Zhou, Peng-Cheng,Chen, Cai-Ling...&Liu, Zheng.(2019).Allergen immunotherapy improves defective follicular regulatory T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis.JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY,144,(1)
MLA:
Yao, Yin,et al."Allergen immunotherapy improves defective follicular regulatory T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis".JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY 144..1(2019):118-128