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Background:
The underlying
mechanisms of
allergen-specific
immunotherapy (SIT)
are not fully
understood.
Objectives:
The present study
aimed to investigate
how leukocyte
phenotypes are
affected by SIT.
Methods:
Blood samples were
taken from 10
patients with birch
polleninduced
allergic rhinitis
before, during, and
immediately after
SIT. Further samples
were obtained after
1 year and 3 years.
All samples were
analyzed by flow
cytometry and
leukocyte
differentiation.
Results: SIT
caused a decrease in
cell-bound
immunoglobulin (Ig)
E on granulocytes,
along with a
corresponding
increase in the
high-affinity IgG
receptor.
Accordingly, a lower
level of
allergen-specific
IgE was found after
3 years. The
treatment induced a
decrease in
neutrophil CD11b
levels, a shift in
monocyte subsets,
and an increase in
the number of
activated T
lymphocytes,
manifested as an
upregulation of CD69
and CD98, and an
expansion of the
CD4+CD25+ T-cell
pool.
Conclusion:
The present study
shows that the
clinical effects of
SIT are mirrored by
systemic changes in
cellular events and
in antibodies,
and offers new
targets for
immunomodulation.
Key words:
Allergic rhinitis.
Flow cytometry. IgE.
Specific
immunotherapy.
Regulatory T cells.
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