Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2018 Sep;10(5):562-569. 10.4168/aair.2018.10.5.562.

Microarray-Based Multivariate Analysis of the Effectiveness of Sublingual Immunotherapy for Cedar Pollinosis

• Gotoh M
• Kaminuma O
• Hiroi T
• Okubo K

• KMID: 2418053
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2018.10.5.562

Abstract

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective treatment for allergic diseases. However, the mechanism by which this therapy exhibits its efficacy has not been fully delineated. To elucidate the mechanisms of SLIT in the treatment of cedar pollinosis (CP), we performed a multivariate analysis of microarray data on mRNA expression in CD4⁺ T cells and basophils. Although 2-year treatment with SLIT using cedar extracts was effective in >70% of patients with CP, the remaining patients did not respond to this therapy. The mRNA expression levels in peripheral CD4⁺ T cells and basophils from both high- and non-responder patients before and after undergoing SLIT were comparatively studied using microarray analysis. By processing the data using serial multivariate analysis, an apoptosis pathway was extracted in both CD4⁺ T cells and basophils. Conclusively, the strong treatment effectiveness of SLIT in patients with CP may be caused by the induction of apoptosis in CD4⁺ T cells and basophils in these patients (Trial registry at University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry Database, UMIN000016532).

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; cytokines; immunoglobulin E

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Basophils
Cytokines
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Information Services
Microarray Analysis
Multivariate Analysis*
Rhinitis, Allergic
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal*
RNA, Messenger
Sublingual Immunotherapy*
T-Lymphocytes
Treatment Outcome
Cytokines
Immunoglobulin E
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Figure The pathway in CD4+ T cells and basophils that is expected to be related to the efficacy of SLIT. The candidate markers extracted from CD4+ T cells (A) as shown in Supplementary Fig. S1 that may distinguish HRs before and after undergoing SLIT and those from basophils (B) as shown in Supplementary Fig. S2 that may distinguish HRs and NRs after undergoing SLIT were processed for pathway analysis using the MetaCore™ software. The most reliable pathway, wherein the extracted markers are connected by a bold line, is shown. SLIT, sublingual immunotherapy; HR, high-responders; NR, non-responders.

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