title: CD21-CD23 ligand pair expression in children with allergic asthma.
abstract: 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 and CD23 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 < 0.001) 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 < 0.001) 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabatić
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gagro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medar-Lasić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E