Bet v 1 triggers antiviral‐type immune signalling in birch‐pollen‐allergic individuals. Issue 8 (18th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wisgrill, Lukas; Fyhrquist, Nanna; Ndika, Joseph; Paalanen, Laura; Berger, Angelika; Laatikainen, Tiina; Karisola, Piia; Haahtela, Tari; Alenius, Harri
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 52:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 929
• Page End: 941
• Publication Date: 2022-02-18
• Subjects: Bet v 1 -- birch allergy -- dendritic cells -- immune network -- macrophages -- systems immunology; Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.14108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

Abstract: Background: In allergic patients, clinical symptoms caused by pollen remind of symptoms triggered by viral respiratory infections, which are also the main cause of asthmatic exacerbations. In patients sensitized to birch pollen, Bet v 1 is the major symptom‐causing allergen. Immune mechanisms driving Bet v 1‐related responses of human blood cells have not been fully characterized. Objective: To characterize the immune response to Bet v 1 in peripheral blood in patients allergic to birch pollen. Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of birch‐allergic ( n = 24) and non‐allergic ( n = 47) adolescents were stimulated ex‐vivo followed by transcriptomic profiling. Systems‐biology approaches were employed to decipher disease‐relevant gene networks and deconvolution of associated cell populations. Results: Solely in birch‐allergic patients, co‐expression analysis revealed activation of networks of innate immunity and antiviral signalling as the immediate response to Bet v 1 stimulation. Toll‐like receptors and signal transducer transcription were the main drivers of gene expression patterns. Macrophages and dendritic cells were the main cell subsets responding to Bet v 1. Conclusions and clinical relevance: In birch‐pollen‐allergic patients, the activated innate immune networks seem to be, in part, the same as those activated during viral infections. This tendency of the immune system to read pollens as viruses may provide new insight to allergy prevention and treatment. Abstract : Systems immunology study to characterize the impact of bet v 1 stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of birch‐allergic and non‐birch allergic children and adolescent. Utilizing transcriptomics and FACS analysis, co‐expression networks revealed innate and antiviral immune networks as well as associated immune cells in birch‐allergic patients. bet v 1 – major birch allergen; PBMC – peripheral blood mononuclear cells, FACS – fluorescence activated cell sorting