Associations of Th2, Th17, Treg cells, and IgA+ memory B cells with atopic disease in children: The Generation R Study

Background New insights into immune cells could contribute to treatment and monitoring of atopic disease. Because nongenetic factors shape the human immune system, we here studied these immune cells in a large cohort with atopic children with adjustment for prenatal and postnatal confounders. Methods Information on atopic dermatitis, inhalant- and food-allergic sensitization, asthma lung function scores was obtained from 855 10-year-old children within the Generation R cohort. 11-color flow cytometry was performed to determine CD27(+) and CD27(-)IgG(+), IgE(+) and IgA(+) memory B cells, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg-memory cells from venous blood. Associations between any atopic disease, the individual atopic diseases, and immune cell numbers were determined. Results Children with any atopic disease had higher Th2, Treg, Treg-memory, and CD27(+)IgA(+) memory B-cell numbers compared to children without atopic disease. When studying the individual diseases compared to children without the individual diseases, children with atopic dermatitis, inhalant-, and food-allergic sensitization had higher memory Treg cell numbers 12.3% (95% CI 4.2; 21.0), (11.1% (95% CI 3.0; 19.8), (23.7% (95% CI 7.9; 41.8), respectively. Children with food-allergic sensitization had higher total B and CD27(+)IgA(+) memory B-cell numbers (15.2% [95% CI 3.2; 28.7], 22.5% [95% CI 3.9; 44.3], respectively). No associations were observed between asthma and B- or T-cell numbers. Conclusion Children with any atopic disease and children with inhalant- and food-allergic sensitization or atopic dermatitis had higher circulating memory Treg cells, but not higher IgE(+)B-cell numbers. The associations of higher Treg and CD27(+)IgA(+) B-cell numbers in children with food-allergic sensitization are suggestive of TGF-beta-mediated compensation for chronic inflammation.