Specific immunoglobulin G4 correlates with Th2 cytokine reduction in patients with allergic asthma treated by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus subcutaneous immunotherapy

Qiujuan Su, MD; Nina Ren, MD; Mulin Feng, MD; Xueni Zeng, MD; Yan Dong, MD; Mo Xian, PhD; Xu Shi, PhD; Tian Luo, MD; Gang Liu, PhD; Jing Li, MD

World Allergy Organization Journal (Jan 2023)

Specific immunoglobulin G4 correlates with Th2 cytokine reduction in patients with allergic asthma treated by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus subcutaneous immunotherapy

Qiujuan Su, MD,
Nina Ren, MD,
Mulin Feng, MD,
Xueni Zeng, MD,
Yan Dong, MD,
Mo Xian, PhD,
Xu Shi, PhD,
Tian Luo, MD,
Gang Liu, PhD,
Jing Li, MD

Affiliations

Qiujuan Su, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Nina Ren, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
Mulin Feng, MD: Yangjiang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Department of Respiratory Medicine, People's Hospital of Yangjiang, Yangjiang, China
Xueni Zeng, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Yan Dong, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Mo Xian, PhD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xu Shi, PhD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Tian Luo, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Gang Liu, PhD: Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
Jing Li, MD: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Yangjiang Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Department of Respiratory Medicine, People's Hospital of Yangjiang, Yangjiang, China; Corresponding author. Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 1
p. 100715

Abstract

Read online

Background: The modulations of lymphocyte subsets and cytokine production due to subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) are not fully clarified. Objective: We investigated the changes in T-lymphocyte subsets and serum Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific immunoglobulin G4 (Der-p sIgG4), as well as cytokine production during Der-p SCIT, in patients with allergic asthma. Methods: This study involved 20 patients with allergic asthma who were receiving 156-week Der-p SCIT and 20 patients without SCIT (non-SCIT). We measured symptom and medication scores (SMS), serum Der-p sIgG4 levels, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg), CD4+IL-4−IFN-γ+ T-helper (Th) 1, and CD4+IL-4+IFN-γ− Th2 lymphocyte percentages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with/without Der-p extract stimulation at weeks 0, 4, 12, 16, 52, 104, and 156. Cytokine release inhibition assays were performed by incubation with serum from SCIT and non-SCIT patients, Der-p allergen, and PBMCs. Levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were evaluated in supernatant. Results: We found that SCIT patients had significantly lower SMS after week 52. Der-p sIgG4 levels in SCIT patients significantly increased at week 16 compared with non-SCIT subjects. CD4+IL-4+IFN-γ− Th2% in SCIT patients showed a significant decrease from weeks 104–156 compared with week 0, while no change was observed in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and CD4+IL-4−IFN-γ+ Th1 percentages. IL-5, IL-13, IL-4, IL-17, and TNF-α levels in supernatant of PBMCs cultured with serum of SCIT patients after 16 weeks showed significant lower levels compared with non-SCIT patients, and showed significant reverse associations with Der-p sIgG4 levels. Conclusion: SCIT induced Dep-p sIgG4 may be involved in downregulating Th2 cytokine production in Der-p allergic asthma patients.

Published in World Allergy Organization Journal

ISSN: 1939-4551 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/world-allergy-organization-journal

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords