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The dendritic cell high‐affinity IgE receptor is overexpressed in both asthma and severe COPD
Author(s) -
Stoll P.,
Bähker A.,
Ulrich M.,
Bratke K.,
Garbe K.,
Christian Virchow J.,
Lommatzsch M.
Publication year - 2016
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.12664
Subject(s) - medicine , immunoglobulin e , copd , immunology , asymptomatic , asthma , plasmacytoid dendritic cell , myeloid , eosinophil , antibody , dendritic cell , antigen
Summary Background The reduction of asthma exacerbations following omalizumab treatment has been related to the suppression of the high‐affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs). However, the FcεRI expression on DCs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. Objective To compare FcεRI expression on DCs in COPD with patients with allergic asthma and healthy controls, and to relate the findings to clinical parameters, blood eosinophil concentrations and serum immunoglobin E (IgE) concentrations. Methods Using four‐colour flow cytometry, FcεRI expression on blood myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs was analyzed in 64 patients with COPD, 20 patients with allergic asthma, 41 asymptomatic never smokers and 21 asymptomatic current smokers. Results As compared with never smokers, current smokers displayed an increased expression of the FcεRI on myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs. In patients with COPD, the expression of the FcεRI on plasmacytoid DCs, but not myeloid DCs, increased from spirometric GOLD stage 2 to GOLD stage 4, and was correlated with several lung function parameters. Patients with severe COPD and patients with allergic asthma displayed a similar FcεRI overexpression on plasmacytoid DCs. In all groups, there was a positive correlation between total IgE serum concentrations and the FcεRI expression on plasmacytoid DCs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Severe COPD and allergic asthma are characterized by a similar overexpression of the high‐affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid DCs. In view of the effect of anti‐IgE on exacerbations in asthma, trials investigating the effect of anti‐IgE on exacerbations in severe COPD appear to be warranted.