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High‐dose bee venom exposure induces similar tolerogenic B‐cell responses in allergic patients and healthy beekeepers
Author(s) -
Boonpiyathad T.,
Meyer N.,
Moniuszko M.,
Sokolowska M.,
Eljaszewicz A.,
Wirz O. F.,
TomasiakLozowska M. M.,
BodzentaLukaszyk A.,
Ruxrungtham K.,
Veen W.
Publication year - 2017
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.12966
Subject(s) - bee venom , medicine , venom , immunology , allergy , biology , zoology , ecology
Background The involvement of B cells in allergen tolerance induction remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the role of B cells in this process, by comparing B‐cell responses in allergic patients before and during allergen immunotherapy ( AIT ) and naturally exposed healthy beekeepers before and during the beekeeping season. Methods Circulating B cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Phospholipase A2 ( PLA )‐specific B cells were identified using dual‐color staining with fluorescently labeled PLA . Expression of regulatory B‐cell‐associated surface markers, interleukin‐10, chemokine receptors, and immunoglobulin heavy‐chain isotypes, was measured. Specific and total IgG1, IgG4, IgA, and IgE from plasma as well as culture supernatants of PLA ‐specific cells were measured by ELISA . Results Strikingly, similar responses were observed in allergic patients and beekeepers after venom exposure. Both groups showed increased frequencies of plasmablasts, PLA ‐specific memory B cells, and IL ‐10‐secreting CD 73 − CD 25 + CD 71 + B R 1 cells. Phospholipase A2‐specific IgG4‐switched memory B cells expanded after bee venom exposure. Interestingly, PLA ‐specific B cells showed increased CCR 5 expression after high‐dose allergen exposure while CXCR 4, CXCR 5, CCR 6, and CCR 7 expression remained unaffected. Conclusions This study provides the first detailed characterization of allergen‐specific B cells before and after bee venom tolerance induction. The observed B‐cell responses in both venom immunotherapy‐treated patients and naturally exposed beekeepers suggest a similar functional immunoregulatory role for B cells in allergen tolerance in both groups. These findings can be investigated in other AIT models to determine their potential as biomarkers of early and successful AIT responses.