Alteration of circulating type 2 follicular helper T cells and regulatory B cells underlies the comorbid association of allergic rhinitis with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR), the most common allergic disorder of the airway, is often accompanied by bronchial asthma. However, little is known about the mechanism by which AR advances to AR comorbid with bronchial asthma (AR+Asthma). To determine the pathophysiologic features of AR and AR+Asthma, we examined subsets of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and regulatory B (Breg) cells in peripheral blood from AR and AR+Asthma patients. The results showed polarization of Tfh2 cells within Tfh cell subsets in both AR and AR+Asthma cases. Interestingly, the %Breg cells in total B cells were decreased in AR cases and, more extensively, in AR+Asthma cases. Moreover, we found significant correlations of fractional exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophil levels with the index %Tfh2 cells per %Breg cells. Our findings indicate that relative decrease in Breg cells under the condition of Tfh2 cell skewing is a putative exaggerating factor of AR to bronchial asthma.

Human regulatory B cells in health and disease: therapeutic potential

“…Similarly, other studies have reported an expansion of Breg phenotype and function upon treatment of MS patients with fingolimod (a sphingosine-1-phosphate modulator) and alemtuzumab (an anti-CD52 therapy) (36)(37)(38). Furthermore, rituximab therapy in MS patients has been shown to improve clinical response by ablating pathogenic IL-6-producing B cells (39 + Bregs was also reported in patients with allergic rhinitis (9). Other studies evaluating Bregs in patients with milk allergy have demonstrated a decrease in IL-10-producing CD5 + B cells upon in vitro restimulation with casein.…”

“…Immunosuppressive Bregs that express IL-10 and other antiinflammatory mediators are involved in the maintenance of homeostasis in the immune system. The importance of Bregs is emphasized by the different immune-related pathologies that are associated with abnormalities in the number and function of Bregs (4,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). For these reasons, there is increasing interest in better understanding the biology of Bregs and identifying the signals that induce their differentiation in order to exploit their therapeutic potential.…”

Regulatory T and B Cells in Asthmatic Women: Variations From Pregnancy to Postpartum

“…They were all informed about the nature of the study and provided written informed consent at recruitment. Blood samples were collected once (at recruitment) for nonpregnant women and twice for pregnant women: once during the third trimester of gestation (weeks [31][32][33][34][35][36] and again during the postpartum period (at least 6 weeks after delivery). All the women completed questionnaires on demographic and clinical data at each time point.…”

“…Hi CD27 + Bregs have been observed in patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis [10,35], although increased CD24…”

Expansion of circulating follicular T helper cells associates with disease severity in childhood atopic dermatitis

“…Aforementioned evidences suggest that upon secondary antigen exposure and activation in inflammatory environment, circulating memory TFH cells could migrate to draining lymphoid nodes and gain fully matured effector TFH phenotype to support GC responses [47,48]. Additionally, concerning their potential plasticity and the current status of the immune system, as highlighted recently, they may promote Th2 immunity or gain the characteristics of Th2 cells at the periphery [49][50][51].…”