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Peripheral effector memory regulatory T-cells are incremented and functionally enhanced in successful mite monomeric allergoid sublingual immunotherapy
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  • Claudia Petrarca,
  • Paola Lanuti,
  • Sabrina Di Pillo,
  • Marianna Petrosino,
  • Marco Marchisio,
  • Laura Pierdomenico,
  • Gianni Mistrello,
  • Enrico Compalati,
  • Takemi Otzuki,
  • Roberto Paganelli,
  • Mario Di Gioacchino
Claudia Petrarca
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Paola Lanuti
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science
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Sabrina Di Pillo
Ospedale Clinicizzato SS Annunziata Chieti
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Marianna Petrosino
Ospedale Clinicizzato SS Annunziata Chieti
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Marco Marchisio
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science
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Laura Pierdomenico
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science
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Gianni Mistrello
Lofarma SpA
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Enrico Compalati
Lofarma SpA
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Takemi Otzuki
Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School
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Roberto Paganelli
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science
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Mario Di Gioacchino
University Gabriele d'Annunzio of Chieti and Pescara Department of Medicine and Aging Science
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Abstract

Background. Sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) is recognized as both efficacious and safe, especially when using monomeric allergoids. Its mechanism of action is based on the differentiation, activation, and maturation of allergen-specific Regulatory T-cells (Tregs), fundamental for the activation and maintenance of immune tolerance. Tregs, originally identified as a subpopulation of Foxp3 expressing CD4+CD25high T-cells; however, under inflammatory conditions, they are conveniently identified by the surface antigen CD127 and are subtyped as Resting, Activated and Effector Tregs by surface expression of CD45RA, HLA-DR and CD39 that represent markers of differentiation status, inhibitory and recall potential. Hence, in this study, circulating Tregs were characterized in pediatric patients suffering from allergic rhinitis (AR) treated by SLIT and to verify the possible correlation between some Treg subsets with successful SLIT. Methods. Twenty children suffering from mite AR and/or asthma were enrolled. AR severity was assessed by evaluating ACT and ARIA scores at baseline and after 12-months of mite-SLIT. Treg analysis of PBMC pre- and post-SLIT, was based on cytofluorimetric determination of total Tregs, as CD4+CD25highCD39+CD127low/neg, further characterized for CD45RA, HLA-DR and CD39 expression. Results. After SLIT, Resting Tregs were significantly reduced whilst Activated/Effector Tregs CD45RAneg (memory Tregs) resulted increased; moreover, CD39 and HLA-DR expression on Tregs was significantly increased. Notably, the intensity of HLA-DR expression on Tregs positively correlated with the improvement of the clinical scores. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that effective SLIT is associated with re-patterning of the differentiation status of Tregs, particularly with the generation of allergen-specific memory effector Tregs.
16 Dec 2020Published in Allergy. 10.1111/all.14692