title: Effects of specific immunotherapy on the B7 family of costimulatory molecules in allergic inflammation.
abstract: The effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) on Ag presentation and T lymphocyte stimulation was evaluated by verifying the expression of costimulatory molecules in allergic patients. Thus, CD28 and CTLA-4, B7, and B7-H molecules on immune cells, as well as cytokine production, were analyzed in and out of the pollination period in 30 patients allergic to Betulaceae that had or had nor undergone specific IT. Results showed that IT attenuated the increase in the percentage of CD28(+)CD4 T cells and the decrease in the percentage of CTLA-4(+)CD4(+) T cells seen in untreated individuals. CD19(+)/CD80, CD19(+)/CD86(+), and CD14(+)/CD80(+) APCs were significantly augmented during pollination in unvaccinated individuals. B7-H1-expressing monocytes (CD14(+)) and B lymphocytes (CD19) as well as CD14 and CD19 B7-H1(+)/IL-10(+) APC were augmented in Betulaceae Ag-stimulated cell cultures of vaccinated patients independently of pollination, and were further increased in these individuals during pollination. As a result, the IL-10-IFN-gamma ratio in CD4(+), CD14(+), and CD19(+) cells increased in vaccinated patients, but decreased in unvaccinated individuals during pollination. These data clarify the cellular and molecular basis underlying the recent observation that peripheral expansion of IL-10-producing cells is associated with successful IT. B7-H1 could be an optimal target for IT of allergic diseases using mAbs.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piconi
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saresella
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iemoli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schenal
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusi
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.forename: Lieping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mascheri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines