Suppressor T Cell Subsets in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

Abstract

Testa B, Mesolella C, Testa D, Mesolella M, Testa F, D'Alessio O. Suppressor T cell subsets in allergic rhinitis patients.

Lymphocyte T cell subsets, total and Parietaria IgE levels were studied in 68 allergic rhinitis patients. in treated patients we observed an increase in the lymphocyte T cell subsets, which express a suppressor function, defined by several monoclonal antibodies, i.e., CD8, CD8 + CD1 lb-, CD4 + CD62L +, CD4 + CD45RO. This increase was significant for T suppressor cells, CD8 + CDllb- (p < 0.046) and T memory cells, CD4 + CD45RO (p < 0.013), whereas a slight decrease was observed in the control group. A decrease in total serum IgE levels was observed in anti-H2 treated patients; only a slight increase was noted in placebo groups; and no variations were found in Parietaria levels in either group. in vitro culture of T lymphocyte clones, T memory cells, from atopic subjects produces IL-4, which induces an increase in IgE synthesis An increase in T memory cells, observed in the treated group, should have accompanied an increase and not a decrease in total serum IgE levels, if the in vivo data correlated with those in vitro. Consequently, the behaviour of lymphocytes in vivo is not homologous to in vitro data.

Key Words:

• allergic rhinitis
• lymphocyte T memory
• lymphocyte T suppressor
• parietaria IgE
• total IgE