Dendritic cells (DCs) play critical roles in atopic diseases, orchestrating both innate and adaptive immune systems. Nevertheless, limited information is available regarding the mechanism through which DCs induce hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergies. This study aims to reveal novel genetic alterations and future therapeutic target molecules in the DCs from patients with allergies using whole transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing of human BDCA-3+/CD11c+ DCs sorted from peripheral blood monocytes obtained from six patients with allergies and four healthy controls was conducted. Gene expression profile data were analyzed, and an ingenuity pathway analysis was performed. A total of 1638 differentially expressed genes were identified at p-values < 0.05, with 11 genes showing a log2-fold change ≥1.5. The top gene network was associated with cell death/survival and organismal injury/abnormality. In validation experiments, amphiregulin (AREG) showed consistent results with transcriptome sequencing data, with increased mRNA expression in THP-1-derived DCs after Der p 1 stimulation and higher protein expression in myeloid DCs obtained from patients with allergies. This study suggests an alteration in the expression of DCs in patients with allergies, proposing related altered functions and intracellular mechanisms. Notably, AREG might play a crucial role in DCs by inducing the Th2 immune response.
Keywords: RNA sequencing; allergic rhinitis; allergy; amphiregulin; dendritic cells; gene networks; transcriptome sequencing.