Allergen-specific T cell quantity in blood is higher in allergic compared to nonallergic individuals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Allergen-specific IgE production is a hallmark of allergic asthma/rhinitis/eczema. Theoretically this could be due to a high number of allergen-specific B cells or allergen-specific T cells helping allergen-specific B cells differentiate into IgE-producing plasma cells. Here, we determined whether the number of allergen-specific B cells or T helper (Th) cells is higher in allergic individuals compared to nonallergic individuals.

Methods

A total of 52 allergic individuals and 32 nonallergic individuals were studied. The allergen-specific B and Th cells were enumerated by culturing CFSE-loaded blood mononuclear cells for 7-days with allergen (cat, Timothy or birch), and determining the number of proliferating B or Th cells (diluting CFSE) by flow cytometry. Allergen

SUBMITTER: Ueno-Yamanouchi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3102632 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature