title: Characterization of oral immune cells in birch pollen-allergic patients: impact of the oral allergy syndrome and sublingual allergen immunotherapy on antigen-presenting cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A detailed characterization of human oral immune cells is needed to better understand local mechanisms associated with allergen capture following oral exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral immune cells were characterized by immunohistology and immunofluorescence in biopsies obtained from three healthy individuals and 23 birch pollen-allergic patients with/without oral allergy syndrome (OAS), at baseline and after 5 months of sublingual allergen immunotherapy (AIT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar cell subsets (i.e., dendritic cells, mast cells, and T lymphocytes) were detected in oral tissues from healthy and birch pollen-allergic individuals. CD207+ Langerhans cells (LCs) and CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) were found in both the epithelium and the papillary layer of the Lamina propria (LP), whereas CD68+ macrophages, CD117+ mast cells, and CD4+ /CD8+ T cells were rather located in both the papillary and reticular layers of the LP. Patterns of oral immune cells were identical in patients with/without OAS, except lower numbers of CD207+ LCs found in oral tissues from patients with OAS, when compared to OAS- patients (P < 0.05). A 5-month sublingual AIT had a limited impact on oral immune cells, with only a significant increase in IgE+ cells in patients from the active group. Colocalization experiments confirmed that such IgE-expressing cells mostly encompass CD68+ macrophages located in the LP, and to a lesser extent CD207+ LCs in the epithelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two cell subsets contribute to antigen/allergen uptake in human oral tissues, including (i) CD207+ LCs possibly involved in the physiopathology of OAS and (ii) CD68+ macrophages likely critical in allergen capture via IgE-facilitated mechanisms during sublingual AIT.
authors: Research and Development, Stallergenes, Antony, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mascarell
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Rak
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Worm
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Melac
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Soulie
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Lescaille
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Lemoine
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Jospin
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Paul
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Caplier
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hasséus
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Björhn
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Zeldin
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Baron-Bodo
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Moingeon
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D029662:Betula; D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D063729:Sublingual Immunotherapy; D013577:Syndrome; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: IgE; birch allergy; macrophages; mucosal immunity; sublingual allergen immunotherapy