Influence of Allergen Specific Immunotherapy on expression of related transcription factors in allergic patients

Abstract

Background: The imbalance in immune response is found to be responsible for various diseases. The dominant Th2 and repressed Th1 and T-reg response is an etiological factor responsible for allergic asthma.

 Objective: We sought to monitor the immune responses during the course of AIT and its relation with anti-inflammatory cytokine and   gene expression.

Study Design: The present was prospective follow up cohort study which followed the study subject’s upto one year.

Participants: The study consisted a total of 40 patients, 12 males and 28 females and 20 controls, 8 males and 12 females.

Methods: This present study included 20 healthy controls and 40 cases which underwent subcutaneous immunotherapy,(SCIT)  sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)  or both SCIT and SLIT . All the patients were assed at baseline and were followed up to one year.Gene expression, pulmonary function variables, subjective symptoms Score and serum analysis were performed

Results: There was marked transition in the serum as well as in molecular signatures that are attributed to AIT. A marked decrease in GATA-3 and a significant increase in , FOXP3, and T-bet (P<0.05) expression with concomitant increase in serum IL-10 TGF- β1 (P<0.05).  A decrease in clinical symptom score (P<0.05) and stastical increase in FEV1 FEV1/FVC and FVC (P<0.05)  were detected.

Conclusion: There was a profound upregulation of FOXP3 and T-bet gene expression with concomitant elevated levels of serum IL-10 and TGF-β1 which supports the development of peripheral tolerance. The AIT also had its effect on pulmonary function. The present study demands further validation.

Implications: The study suggests that besides pharmacotherapy, AIT can be used in appropriate group of patients to alleviate disease severity, besides it provides a rationale for understanding the immunomodulation via allergen immunotherapy.