In vitro Allergen Stimulation Induces CD30 Expression and Cytokine Production on T Cells From Patients With Allergic Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Introduction: : Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is related to Th2 immune responses. Recently it has been suggested that CD4+CD30+ T cells are the main subset that proliferate in response to allergen stimulation. CD30 is an activation molecule widely distributed on leukocytes.

Purpose: : The aim of this work was to evaluate the expression of CD30 on T cells subsets and cytokine production after in vitro stimulation in patients with AC.

Methods: : Patients were divided into two groups: Group A were patients with the clinical diagnosis (CD)of AC and skin prick test (SPT)positive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) (n=4). Group B were patients with CD of AC and SPT negative to any allergen (n=4). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured and stimulated with Der p for 7 days, after that, cells were labelled with fluorescent Abs against CD30, CD4, CD8, IFN–g and IL–4. Results were analyzed by flow–cytometry and rank sum test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: : Percentage of CD4+CD30+ T cells in group A was 31% ± 8 vs 35% ± 10 in group B; percentage of CD8+CD30+ T cells in group A was 38% ± 7 vs 31 ± 11 in group B; Intracellular expression (IE) of IFN–g on CD4+CD30+ T cells in group A was 27% ± 4 vs IE of IFN–g on CD4+CD30– T cells in same group 11% ± 2 (p=0.024); IE of IL–4 on CD4+CD30+ T cells in group A was 27% ± 3 vs IE of IL–4 on CD4+CD30– T cells in same group 6% ± 2(p=0.024); IE of IFN–g on CD4+CD30+ T cells in group B was 26% ± 8 vs IE of IFN–g on CD4+CD30– T cells in same group 11% ± 3 (p=0.042); IE of IL–4 on CD4+CD30+ T cells in group B was 22% ± 7 vs IE of IL–4 on CD4+CD30– T cells in same group 9% ± 3(p=0.073); IE of IFN–g on CD8+CD30+ T cells in group A was 17% ± 4 vs IE of IFN–g on CD8+CD30– T cells in same group 8% ± 2 (p=0.012);IE of IL–4 on CD8+CD30+ T cells in group A was 16% ± 6 vs IE of IL–4 on CD8+CD30– T cells in same group 4% ± 1(p=0.019); IE of IL–4 on CD8+CD30+ T cells in group B was 11% ± 3 vs IE of IL–4 on CD8+CD30– T cells in the same group 3% ± 2(p=0.006).

Conclusions: : Our results showed that CD30+ T cells (CD4 and CD8) were the main cell subset producer of cytokines; it is the first demonstration that cytotoxic T cells bearing CD30 produce cytokines after allergenic stimulation in patients with AC. Our results suggest that CD30+ T cells could regulate the immune response toward Th2 profile associated to development of ocular allergy.

Keywords: conjunctivitis • immunomodulation/immunoregulation • cornea: basic science