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House dust mite‐specific T cells in healthy non‐atopic children
Author(s) -
Bullens D. M. A.,
Swerdt A.,
Dilissen E.,
Kasran A.,
Kroczek R. A.,
Cadot P.,
Casaer P.,
Ceuppens J. L.
Publication year - 2005
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/j.1365-2222.2005.02352.x
Subject(s) - immunology , house dust mite , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , medicine , allergen , allergy , cytokine , immune system , immunoglobulin e , biology , antibody , in vitro , biochemistry
Summary Background T‐helper type 2 (Th2) cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that allergen‐specific T cells can also be found in the blood of healthy individuals. Both IL‐10 and IFN‐γ might modulate the induction and maintenance of allergen‐specific tolerance. Aim To study the phenotype and functional characteristics of allergen‐specific T cells in healthy non‐atopic children. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 13 symptomatic house dust mite (HDM)‐allergic children and from nine matched healthy control children were stimulated with recombinant (r)Der p 2, a major allergen from HDMs. Results Stimulation with rDer p 2 resulted in Th2 cytokine production in cultures of PBMC from allergic but not from healthy children. In contrast, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ were induced in PBMC cultures from both healthy and HDM‐allergic children. Intracellular staining revealed that IL‐10 and IFN‐γ are largely produced by the same T cells. Stimulation of T cells from healthy children with rDer p 2 also induced expression of inducible costimulator (ICOS) on a small T cell subset. Conclusion Allergen‐specific memory T cells from healthy non‐atopic children produce IL‐10 and IFN‐γ (but not Th2 cytokines) and express ICOS upon stimulation. These cells might be responsible for a normal immune balance after allergen encounter in non‐atopics.