IgE-expressing memory B cells and plasmablasts are increased in blood of children with asthma, food allergy and atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Despite the critical role of soluble IgE in the pathology of IgE-mediated allergic disease, little is known about abnormalities in the memory B-cells and plasma cells that produce IgE in allergic patients. We here applied a flowcytometric approach to cross-sectionally study blood IgE+ memory B-cells and plasmablasts in 149 children with atopic dermatitis, food allergy and/or asthma, and correlated these to helper-T(h)2 cells and eosinophils. Children with allergic disease had increased numbers of IgE+CD27- and IgE+CD27+ memory B-cells and IgE+ plasmablasts, as well as increased numbers of eosinophils and Th2 cells. IgE+ plasmablast numbers correlated positively with Th2 cell numbers. These findings open new possibilities for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in patients with allergic diseases.

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