Evaluation of Receptor Expression on Immune System Cells in the Peripheral Blood of Asthmatic Children Undergoing Food Challenges

Abstract

Background: The role of food allergens in the induction of allergic reactions in the airways is not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate fluorocytometric assays of the peripheral blood during food challenge tests in children with asthma and food allergy. Patients and Methods: 22 children with asthma and concomitant food allergy and 18 children with asthma without food allergy participated in the study. Oral challenge tests were performed using double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Blood samples were collected before and 4 and 24 h after the challenge. CD25 and CD23 antigen expression was determined with monoclonal antibodies using a FACSCalibur flow. Results: The evaluation of the CD25+ T subpopulation and CD19+CD23+ B lymphocytes revealed statistically significant differences between the study group and the control group. In children with asthma and food allergy, the cell pool consisted (on average) of 9 ± 2.8% of CD3+CD25+ cells before the challenge and of 10.3 ± 3.8% (mean delta: 1.623; p = 0.01) after the provocation. However, placebo challenge did not significantly change the number of this T-lymphocyte subpopulation (mean delta: –0.121; p > 0.05). The highest increase in the CD25+ T-subpopulation expression was found in patients with respiratory reactions during the positive food challenge (mean delta: 4.065; p < 0.004). Conclusions: An increase in CD25+ T-lymphocyte and CD23 B-lymphocyte populations after food allergen challenge may indicate their significant role in the pathogenesis of the active phase of the immunoinflammatory process in children with asthma and concomitant food allergy.

Alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations and TGF-β in children with transient or persistent cow’s milk allergy

“…Krogulska et al analysed CD19 + CD23 + lymphocytes in children with asthma and food allergies, revealing their significant increase 24 hours after an oral food challenge. Moreover, the CD19 + CD23 + increase was greater in individuals with severe reactions than in those with moderate/mild manifestation (Krogulska, Wasowska-Królikowska, Polakowska, & Chrul, 2009). In our analysis, a significant difference in the B cell number was found only in children who developed tolerance to CM, showing a decrease in the percentage of CD19 + cells expressing CD23 + , the "low-affinity" receptor for IgE, after the CM challenge.…”

Anaphylaxis due to food-related anaphylaxis treated with omalizumab

“…Gagro et al had mentioned that CD23+ lymphocytes were positively correlated with serum IgE level. In addition, CD23+ B cells were decreased after hyposensitization in allergy children and had correlation with the severity in asthma patients after allergen challenge [20,21]. Serum IgE level is one of the parameters to evaluate the severe condition in allergy.…”