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Peanut‐specific B and T cell responses are correlated in peanut‐allergic but not in non‐allergic individuals
Author(s) -
Turcanu V.,
Winterbotham M.,
Kelleher P.,
Lack G.
Publication year - 2008
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.1365-2222.2008.03016.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , immunology , tetanus , toxoid , peanut allergy , antibody , cytokine , allergy , interleukin 4 , medicine , vaccination
Summary Objective We aim to find what is the relationship between B cell antibody responses and specific T cell help in the specific cases of allergy and tolerance to peanuts. Background B cell antibody responses to foreign proteins usually depend upon antigen‐specific T cell help. However, specific antibody levels can sometimes be maintained lifelong after infections or vaccination. Methods We measured peanut‐specific proliferation and antibody levels in peanut‐allergic and non‐allergic children using tritiated thymidine incorporation and UniCAP, respectively. We also investigated the corresponding tetanus toxoid specific responses in both groups. Results We found that tetanus‐specific IgG did not correlate with lymphocyte proliferation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient r ′=0.08, P =0.74) nor with tetanus‐specific cytokine production (IFN‐γ: r ′=0.198, P =0.285; TNF‐α: r ′=0.274, P =0.146; IL‐4: r ′=−0.007, P =0.96; P =0.221; IL‐13: r ′=0.363, P =0.056). Conversely, in peanut‐allergic donors, peanut‐specific IgE (average 21 kU/L, median 2.27 kU/L, range 0.34‐100 kU/L) but not peanut‐specific IgG was positively correlated with proliferation ( r ′=0.751, P =0.003). In these donors, specific IgE was positively correlated with peanut‐specific Th2 cytokines production: r ′=0.635, P =0.02 for IL‐4 and r ′=0.641, P =0.025 for IL‐13 and negatively correlated with Th1 cytokines ( r ′=−0.71, P =0.007 for IFN‐γ and r ′=−0.746, P =0.005 for TNF‐α, respectively). However, peanut‐specific IgE was not correlated with T cell proliferation or cytokine production in non‐allergic individuals. In conclusion, in allergic individuals, B and T cell responses to peanut antigens are correlated whereas normal immune responses B and T cell responses are uncoupled. Conclusion Our results support the view that B cell responses to allergens but not those to non‐allergenic proteins are correlated with specific T cell responses and therefore specific immunotherapy targeting of such T cells would inhibit allergen‐specific B cells.