Open AccessCD21‐CD23 ligand pair expression in children with allergic asthma
Author(s) -
RABATIĆ S.,
GAGRO A.,
MEDARLASIĆ M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb03454.x
Subject(s) - cd23 , immunoglobulin e , cd20 , immunology , antigen , receptor , biology , medicine , antibody
SUMMARY The CD23 antigen, a low affinity receptor for IgE, was recently shown to interact with another ligand, CD21, and the pairing of these molecules is important in T cell‐B cell interaction and control of IgE production. Here, we analysed the expression of CD21 andCD23 on CD4 + and CD20 + lymphocytes in 25 allergic children and 12 age‐matched non‐allergic controls. Both the percentage (P<0.01) and the absolute number (P<0.00l) of CD23 + cells were increased in allergic children. There was no difference of CD21 + cells. Double positive CD4 + CD23 + cells (2.5%) were only detected in one patient, in others all CD23 being expressed on B cells. The CD21 antigen was expressed only on B cells. Furthermore, allergic children had an increased mean fluorescence intensity of both the CD21 (P<0.00l) and the CD23 (P<0.001) receptor. To analyse the possible difference in B cell subsets expressing CD21 and CD23 antigens, three‐colour fluorescence analysis was performed. In allergic children the subset of CD20 + CD21 − cells expressed more CD23 than in controls (P<0.001). These results may mean an impaired expression and possibly regulation of CD21‐CD23 interaction in allergic conditions.