title: A reduction in allergen-induced Fc epsilon R2/CD23 expression on peripheral B cells correlates with successful hyposensitization in grass pollinosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cellular basis for the mechanism of specific hyposensitization is still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We prospectively studied the effect of immunotherapy on allergen-induced proliferation and Fc epsilon R2/CD23 expression of lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mononuclear cells prepared from the peripheral blood of 22 patients with grass pollen (GP) allergy before, during, and after a preseasonal immunotherapy period with GP were stimulated with GP or control antigens. Tritiated thymidine uptake and percentage of CD23+ B cells were determined daily during days 6 to 8 and compared with lymphocyte responsiveness of 11 only symptomatically treated atopic patients and 14 nonatopic individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GP-induced lymphocyte proliferative response of both hyposensitized and symptomatically treated GP-allergic patients decreased markedly before the pollen season and rose again after seasonal allergen exposure, whereas a long-lived decrease in GP-induced Fc epsilon R2/CD23+ B cells was only observed in GP-treated patients. Alterations in Fc epsilon R2/CD23 expression were closely related to changes in symptoms and medication requirement during the following pollen season. In contrast, immunotherapy had no effect on Fc epsilon R2/CD23 expression of B cells without stimulation or on B cells cultured in the presence of control antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because Fc epsilon R2/CD23 expression on B cells is antagonistically regulated by the cytokines interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma, the decrease of allergen-induced Fc epsilon R2/CD23+ B cells indicates an altered cytokine secretion pattern of the allergen-specific T lymphocytes with a predominance of interferon-gamma.
authors: Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Technische Universität München, Germany.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Jung
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Prinz
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Rieber
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E