Mite-specific induction of interleukin-2 receptor on T lymphocytes from children with mite-sensitive asthma: modified immune response with immunotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of immunotherapy is still controversial. To elucidate the mechanisms of immunotherapy, we studied mite-specific induction of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on T lymphocytes from children with mite-sensitive asthma.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 28 children with mite-sensitive asthma: 13 had never received house dust immunotherapy (nonimmunotherapy group), 15 had been receiving house dust immunotherapy at the time of the study (immunotherapy group). After a 6-day culture with or without Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) antigen, the expression of IL-2Rp55 (CD25) and p75 on CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The nonimmunotherapy group showed significant Df-specific CD25 induction on CD4+ T lymphocytes (delta CD4+ CD25+) but little induction on CD8+ T lymphocytes (delta CD8+ CD25+). delta CD4+ CD25+ was correlated with the severity of the disease. In the immunotherapy group delta CD8+ CD25+ was significantly higher than in the nonimmunotherapy group or in normal subjects and correlated with Df-specific IgG4 and cumulative doses of house dust extract, whereas delta CD4+ CD25+ was similar in the nonimmunotherapy and the immunotherapy groups. IL-2Rp75 was not induced either on CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that house dust immunotherapy may have induced Df-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with mite-sensitive asthma and that the efficacy of immunotherapy may be attributed to the generation of Df-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes.
Bonno
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Mie National Hospital, Japan.
Fujisawa
T
T
Iguchi
K
K
Uchida
Y
Y
Kamiya
H
H
Komada
Y
Y
Sakurai
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood; D007114:Immunization; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2