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High proportions of FOXP 3 + CD 25 high T cells in neonates are positively associated with allergic sensitization later in childhood
Author(s) -
Strömbeck A.,
Rabe H.,
Lundell A.C.,
Andersson K.,
Johansen S.,
Adlerberth I.,
Wold A. E.,
Hesselmar B.,
Rudin A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.12290
Subject(s) - foxp3 , il 2 receptor , sensitization , immunology , allergy , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , population , medicine , biology , t cell , immune system , biochemistry , environmental health , in vitro
Summary Background The role of FOXP 3 + regulatory T cells in the prevention against sensitization and allergy development is controversial. Objective We followed 65 newborn Swedish children from farming and non‐farming families from birth to 3 years of age and investigated the relation between CD 4 + T cell subsets in blood samples and development of sensitization and allergic disease. Methods The proportions of FOXP 3 + CD 25 high , CTLA ‐4 + CD 25 + , CD 45 RO + , HLA ‐ DR + , CCR 4 + or α4β7 + within the CD 4 + T cell population were examined by flow cytometry of blood samples at several time‐points. Mononuclear cells were isolated from blood and stimulated with birch allergen, ovalbumin or the mitogen PHA , and the levels of IL ‐1β, IL ‐6, TNF , IFN ‐γ, IL ‐5 and IL ‐13 were measured. A clinical evaluation regarding the presence of allergen‐specific IgE and allergy was performed at 18 and 36 months of age. Results Multivariate discriminant analysis revealed that children who were sensitized at 18 or 36 months of age had higher proportions of FOXP 3 + CD 25 high T cells at birth and at 3 days of life than children who remained non‐sensitized, whereas allergy was unrelated to the neonatal proportions of these cells. The proportions of CTLA ‐4 + CD 25 + T cells were unrelated to both sensitization and allergy. The association between higher proportions of FOXP 3 + CD 25 high T cells and sensitization persisted after exclusion of farmer's children. Finally, a farming environment was associated with lower proportions of FOXP3 + CD25 high T cells in early infancy and to a more prominent T cell memory conversion and cytokine production. Conclusion & Clinical Relevance Our results indicate that high proportions of FOXP 3 + CD 25 high T cells in neonates are not protective against later sensitization or development of allergy.