title: Quantitative analysis of peripheral allergen-specific B lymphocytes in asthma.
abstract: We have recently shown that the number of peripheral allergen-specific T cells can, in part, predict, together with methacholine hyperresponsiveness, the bronchial response to inhaled allergen in asthmatic patients. This study was designed to explore the role of blood B cells committed to produce allergen-specific IgE in asthma. Twenty-three asthmatic patients sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and 11 control subjects were studied. Peripheral blood B cells, committed to produce allergen-specific IgE, were enumerated by limiting dilution microcultures of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells. An allergen inhalation challenge was performed in all asthmatic subjects. No difference was found in the frequency of B cells committed to produce allergen-specific IgE either between asthmatic patients and controls or between asthmatic patients with or without late-phase bronchial response to allergen. No correlation was found between the frequency of B cells committed to produce allergen-specific IgE and the bronchial response to the allergen inhalation challenge. We conclude that, in quantitative terms, peripheral allergen-specific B cells are not as relevant as T cells to the development of the asthmatic response in the model of provoked asthma.
authors.affiliation: DIBIT, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Burastero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenoglio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crimi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brusasco
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D011930:Reaction Time; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E