The effect of specific immunotherapy on T-cell receptor repertoire in patients with allergy to house-dust mite.
BACKGROUND
The precise mechanism of specific immunotherapy (SIT), long used for treating allergic diseases, remains undefined. SIT was shown to act by modifying the immune response of T lymphocytes to antigens. We examined the effect of SIT on the expression and use V-alpha, -beta, -gamma and -delta chains of T-cell receptors (TCR) in patients allergic to house-dust mite.


METHODS
Peripheral venous blood was taken for lymphocyte TCR analysis from 10 house-dust mite (HDM) allergic adults before initiating SIT and 6 months after initiating the treatment. Twelve similarly allergic patients without SIT served as controls. TCR chains were identified by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) using the following monoclonal antibodies: CD3, CD14, CD8, pan alpha-beta, pan gamma-delta, V-alpha2, V-alpha12.1, V-beta5a, V-beta5b, V-beta5c, V-beta8a, V-beta8b, V-beta3.1, V-beta13, V-beta12, V-beta6.7, V-delta1, V-delta2, V-gamma9, and V-gamma4.


RESULTS
Analyzed before and 6 months after SIT initiation, lymphocyte TCR showed significantly increased V-beta5b, V-beta12 and V-alpha12.1 values compared to controls (without significant changes in other markers).


CONCLUSIONS
SIT caused selective expansion of certain V-beta- and V-alpha-expressing T cells in patients allergic to HDM. Our results support the notion that the effect of SIT in patients with allergic rhinitis may be achieved by modifying the T lymphocyte response through the modulation of TCR usage.
Sade
K
K
Department of Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Kivity
S
S
Levy
A
A
Fireman
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D015415:Biomarkers; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta