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Characterization of oral immune cells in birch pollen‐allergic patients: impact of the oral allergy syndrome and sublingual allergen immunotherapy on antigen‐presenting cells
Author(s) -
Mascarell L.,
Rak S.,
Worm M.,
Melac M.,
Soulie S.,
Lescaille G.,
Lemoine F.,
Jospin F.,
Paul S.,
Caplier L.,
Hasséus B.,
Björhn C.,
Zeldin R. K.,
BaronBodo V.,
Moingeon P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.12576
Subject(s) - allergy , medicine , immunology , sublingual immunotherapy , immunotherapy , allergen , oral allergy syndrome , immune system , allergen immunotherapy , desensitization (medicine) , oral immunotherapy , sublingual administration , antigen , receptor
Abstract Background A detailed characterization of human oral immune cells is needed to better understand local mechanisms associated with allergen capture following oral exposure. Methods Oral immune cells were characterized by immunohistology and immunofluorescence in biopsies obtained from three healthy individuals and 23 birch pollen‐allergic patients with/without oral allergy syndrome ( OAS ), at baseline and after 5 months of sublingual allergen immunotherapy ( AIT ). Results Similar cell subsets (i.e. , dendritic cells, mast cells, and T lymphocytes) were detected in oral tissues from healthy and birch pollen‐allergic individuals. CD 207 + Langerhans cells ( LC s) and CD 11c + myeloid dendritic cells ( DC s) were found in both the epithelium and the papillary layer of the Lamina propria ( LP ) , whereas CD 68 + macrophages, CD 117 + mast cells, and CD 4 + / CD 8 + T cells were rather located in both the papillary and reticular layers of the LP . Patterns of oral immune cells were identical in patients with/without OAS , except lower numbers of CD 207 + LC s found in oral tissues from patients with OAS , when compared to OAS − patients ( P < 0.05). A 5‐month sublingual AIT had a limited impact on oral immune cells, with only a significant increase in IgE + cells in patients from the active group. Colocalization experiments confirmed that such IgE‐expressing cells mostly encompass CD 68 + macrophages located in the LP , and to a lesser extent CD 207 + LC s in the epithelium. Conclusion Two cell subsets contribute to antigen/allergen uptake in human oral tissues, including (i) CD 207 + LC s possibly involved in the physiopathology of OAS and (ii) CD 68 + macrophages likely critical in allergen capture via IgE‐facilitated mechanisms during sublingual AIT .