CD38+ B cells affect immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the mainstay in the treatment of allergic diseases, but the therapeutic effects of AIT need to be improved. CD38⁺ B cells are an immune cell fraction involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases as well as in immune regulation.

Objective: We sought to elucidate the role of antigen-specific CD38⁺ B cells in AIT.

Methods: An analysis was carried out on AIT results of 48 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (AR), among which peripheral blood immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry; serum cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. An AR murine model was developed to test the role of CD38⁺ B cells in AIT.

Results: A fraction of antigen-specific CD38⁺ B cell was detected in AR patients. CD38⁺ B-cell frequency was negatively correlated with the therapeutic effects of AIT. A negative correlation was detected between the CD38⁺ B-cell frequency and regulatory T-cell frequency in AR patients treated with AIT. Exposure to specific antigens induced CD38⁺ B cells to produce IL-6, that converted Treg cells to T_H17 cells. Coadministration of anti-CD38 antibody significantly promoted the therapeutic effects of AIT.

Conclusions: Antigen-specific CD38⁺ B cells compromise AIT effects by producing IL-6 to convert regulatory T cells to T_H17 cells. Inhibition of CD38⁺ B cells promotes the effects of AIT.

Keywords: Allergy; B cell; CD38; immunotherapy; regulatory T cell.