The association between expression of CD200 on B lymphocytes and the count of eosinophils and basophils in atopic dermatitis patients with and without dupilumab therapy – Pilot study

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 132; p. 112023
• Main Authors: Čelakovská, J., Čermákova, E., Boudková, P., Andrýs, C., Krejsek, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.05.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Antigens, CD - immunology; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Atopic dermatitis; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Basophils - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dupilumab; Eosinophils - drug effects; Eosinophils - immunology; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; T lymphocytes; Young Adult; T lymphocytes; Atopic dermatitis; B lymphocytes; Dupilumab
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112023

•An interaction between CD200 on B lymphocytes and eosinophils has been demonstrated.•The associations between eosinophils and CD200 on B cells suggested a relationship with IL-4.•IL-4, CD200 and eosinophils are suggested to contribute to B lymphocyte activation. Eosinophils and basophils are implicated in allergic reactions, and the molecule CD200 on B cells may have regulatory functions. Assessing the associations between the expression of CD200 on B lymphocytes and eosinophils and basophils helps unravel the complex immune interactions in atopic dermatitis, aiding in targeted therapeutic approaches. Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the association between the count of eosinophils, basophils, CD16+ eosinophils, CD203+ basophils, the expression of activation marker CD200 on B cells and on their subsets in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis with and without dupilumab and in control group. Altogether we examined 75 subjects: 45 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis –32 patients without dupilumab treatment, 13 patients with dupilumab treatment and 30 subjects as a control group. Immunophenotype was examined by flow cytometry in which monoclonal antibodies with fluorescent molecules were used. For statistical analysis we used non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis one-factor analysis of variance with post-hoc by Dunn's test with Bonferroni modification and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient with calculation of R2 (%, percent of Variation Explained). In patients with dupilumab therapy we confirmed the association between absolute eosinophils and expression of molecule CD200 on total B lymphocytes (in 23.9 %), non-switched (in 27.2 %), naive (in 25 %) and memory (in 20.3 %) B lymphocytes and between relative eosinophils and expression of CD200 on total B lymphocytes (in 22.8 % %), non-switched (in 29 %), naive (in 21.3 %) and memory (in 22.3 %) B lymphocytes. This association is low in AD patients without dupilumab and even non linear in control healthy subjects. The higher association between eosinophils and expression of CD200 molecule on memory, naive and non switched B lymphocytes in AD patients under dupilumab therapy suggests that activation of B lymphocytes is caused by IL-4, whose production involves eosinophils and the CD200 molecule on B lymphocytes.