JOURNAL OF SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY (MEDICAL SCIENCE) ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 626-632.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2020.05.010

• Original article (Clinical research) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of sublingual immunotherapy on functions of effector T cells and regulatory T cells

DAI Fei, WEI Jin-jin, TANG Xin-yue, CHEN Zheng, LIN Lin   

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital North of Fudan University, Shanghai 201907, China
  • Online:2020-05-28 Published:2020-05-28
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371076); Shanghai Suburb Tertiary Hospital Clinical Capacity Building Project (SHDC12015905).

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Abstract: Objective · To investigate the effect of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on the functions of effector T cells (Teff) and regulatory T cells (Treg) under allergic rhinitis (AR) condition. Methods · Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 20 AR patients who were recruited from Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital North of Fudan University before and after the 24- and 30-month treatments of SLIT. The percentages of Teff and Treg in CD4+ T cells in PBMC were examined and the contents of calcium release-activated calcium channel modulator 1 (ORAI1) protein and Ca2+ mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in PBMC were measured. Then, Teff and Treg after the 30-month treatment were cultured in vitro, and were evaluated for the expression of ORAI1 protein and concentrations of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in the cultures. Lentivirus vector (lenti) that encoded short hairpin RNA against ORAI1 (lenti-ORAI1) was prepared and transfected into Teff and Treg, and then Ca2+ MFI in Teff and Treg and concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 in the cultures were assessed again. Results · The percentage of Teff in CD4+ T cells in PBMC reduced gradually after the 24- and 30-month treatments (P=0.000, P=0.027); however, the percentage of Treg was increased (P=0.000, P=0.008). The expression of ORAI1 protein (P=0.000, P=0.003) and Ca2+ MFI (P=0.000, P=0.000) in Teff were also decreased gradually after the 24- and 30-month treatments; however, the expression of ORAI1 protein (P=0.000, P=0.007) and Ca2+ MFI in Treg were enhanced (P=0.000, P=0.000). ORAI1 protein was expressed in these two types of cells cultured in vitro. Furthermore, Ca2+ MFI in them (P=0.004, P=0.000) and IL-4 (P=0.009) and IL-10 (P=0.000) in the cultures were all decreased after the transfection of lenti-ORAI1. Conclusion · SLIT can control functions of Teff and Treg through regulating the expression of ORAI1 protein.

Key words: immunotherapy, allergic rhinitis, T cell, calcium release-activated calcium channel modulator 1 (ORAI1), cytokine

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