title: Increase in CD23+ B cells in infants with bronchiolitis is accompanied by appearance of IgE and IgG4 antibodies specific for respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may induce asthma-like symptoms and RSV-specific IgE in infected infants as a result of Th2-like response to RSV. The effect of RSV infection on the expression of B cell antigens CD21 and CD23, putative participants in Th2 responses, was investigated. Samples from bronchiolitic infants (n = 19) were tested by three-color immunofluorescence flow cytometry during the acute phase of infection and 4-6 weeks later. In 6 of 10 RSV-positive infants, the percentage of CD23+ B cells was higher than in 9 RSV-negative children and in controls. Both CD21+ and CD21- B cells exhibited a higher percentage of CD23. The group with increased expression of CD23 antigen had RSV-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that RSV could provoke a Th2-type response, but the relationship between CD23 antigen and RSV infection must be determined.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabatić
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gagro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lokar-Kolbas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krsulović-Hresić
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vrtar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Popow-Kraupp
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Drazenović
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mlinarić-Galinović
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000097:blood; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000097:blood*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E