Objective: To investigate the expression of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L in T and B lymphocytes as well as its relations with total IgE (TIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) on them were also investigated.
Method: Thirty allergic allergic rhinitis patients were chosen as observation group, and 30 healthy patients as control group. Cytofluorometric analysis was used to compare the expression level of CD28/B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in the two groups. The relationship between the CD28/ B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L expression level and serum Total IgE, ECP level were analyzed.
Result: The expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in allergic rhinitis patients were significantly higher than in the healthy, and serum level of TIgE has a positive relationship with the expression level of CD40L on T cells. ECP has a positive relationship with the expression level of B7-2 on B cells. The expression level of B7-1 showed no significant difference between the two groups. After specific immunotherapy for 6 months, the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells were decreased in allergic rhinitis patients but still higher than in healthy.
Conclusions: The upregulated level of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7-2 and CD40/ CD40L on T cells and B cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, specific immunotherapy can downregulate the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L, and decrease the serum level of TIgE, it may be a possible mechanism in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.