title: Allergen-specific T cell quantity in blood is higher in allergic compared to nonallergic individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen-specific IgE production is a hallmark of allergic asthma/rhinitis/eczema. Theoretically this could be due to a high number of allergen-specific B cells or allergen-specific T cells helping allergen-specific B cells differentiate into IgE-producing plasma cells. Here, we determined whether the number of allergen-specific B cells or T helper (Th) cells is higher in allergic individuals compared to nonallergic individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 52 allergic individuals and 32 nonallergic individuals were studied. The allergen-specific B and Th cells were enumerated by culturing CFSE-loaded blood mononuclear cells for 7-days with allergen (cat, Timothy or birch), and determining the number of proliferating B or Th cells (diluting CFSE) by flow cytometry. Allergen-specific IgE concentration was determined by fluorescent enzymoimmunoassay (FEIA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quantities of proliferating Th cells but not proliferating B cells specific for cat, Timothy and birch were significantly higher in cat-, Timothy- and birch-allergic individuals compared to nonallergic individuals. The titer of allergen-specific IgE showed significant correlation with allergen-specific Th cells and not with allergen-specific B cells for all 3 allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high number of allergen-specific proliferating Th cells, but not proliferating B cells, may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma/rhinitis/eczema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Science Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Aito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueno-Yamanouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 269, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Room 269, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Faisal M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Science Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Bazir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serushago
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Science Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Room 269, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Science Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 269, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luider
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Science Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Storek