Modulation of mTOR effector phosphoproteins in blood basophils from allergic patients

J Clin Immunol. 2012 Jun;32(3):565-73. doi: 10.1007/s10875-012-9651-x. Epub 2012 Feb 21.

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway contributes to various immunoinflammatory processes. Yet, its potential involvement in basophil responses in allergy remains unclear. In this pilot study, we quantified two key mTOR effector phosphoproteins, the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (peIF4E) and S6 ribosomal protein (pS6rp), in blood basophils from nut allergy patients (NA, N = 16) and healthy controls (HC, N = 13). Without stimulation in vitro, basophil peIF4E levels were higher in NA than HC subjects (P = 0.014). Stimulation with nut (offending) but not chicken / rice (non-offending) extract increased basophil peIF4E and pS6rp levels (+32%, P = 0.018, and +98%, P = 0.0026, respectively) in NA but not HC subjects, concomitant with increased surface levels of CD203c and CD63, both known to reflect basophil activation. Pre-treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin decreased pS6rp and CD203c responses in nut extract-stimulated basophils in NA subjects. Thus, basophil responses to offending allergens are associated with modulation of mTOR effector phosphoproteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Allergens / pharmacology
  • Anacardium / immunology
  • Basophils / drug effects
  • Basophils / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Juglans / immunology
  • Male
  • Nut Hypersensitivity / blood
  • Nut Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Peanut Hypersensitivity / blood
  • Peanut Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plant Extracts / immunology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 / immunology*
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E
  • Plant Extracts
  • Ribosomal Protein S6
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus