Objective: To compare the difference in the effects of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on immunological responses in children with asthma.
Methods: A total of 86 children with asthma caused by dust mites were enrolled and divided into a SLIT group (n=29), a SCIT group (n=13), a group receiving complete SCIT course (complete SCIT group; n=14), and a group receiving conventional medication (control group, n=30). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stimulated with house dust mite extract for 48 hours in vitro, and the percentage of regulatory T cells (Treg%) in CD4+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied to compare the changes in humoral immunological indices and therapeutic effects in the SCIT and SLIT groups before treatment and after 6 and 12 months of treatment.
Results: Before antigenic stimulation, Treg% in CD4(+) T cells in the SCIT group was significantly higher than that in the SLIT and control groups; after antigenic stimulation was given, Treg% in the four groups decreased significantly. After 6 and 12 months of immunotherapy, the SCIT group had significant changes in serum sIgE and sIgG4 levels, while the SLIT group only showed a significant change in serum sIgE level.
Conclusions: Temporal difference exists in different immunotherapies to cause immunological responses in children with asthma, and immunological responses induced by SCIT may occur earlier.