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Tropical urban environments reveal a strong association of CD45RB lo TH2A subset to allergic rhinitis
  • +19
  • Anand Kumar Andiappan,
  • Wendy W.L. Lee,
  • Kia Joo PUAN,
  • Bernett Lee,
  • Celine Chua,
  • Ser Mei Koh,
  • Nurhashikin YUSOF,
  • Kim Peng Tan,
  • Boris San Luis,
  • Jocelyn Ong,
  • Simon Merid,
  • Rachel Ang,
  • Xue Ying Chan,
  • Low Jing,
  • Eliza Terenzani,
  • Josephine Lum,
  • Shihui Foo,
  • Francesca Zolezzi,
  • Annabelle Tay Sok Yan,
  • Erik Melén,
  • Soh Jian Yi,
  • Olaf Rotzschke
Anand Kumar Andiappan
Singapore Immunology Network

Corresponding Author:anand_andiappan@immunol.a-star.edu.sg

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Wendy W.L. Lee
Singapore Immunology Network
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Kia Joo PUAN
Singapore Immunology Network
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Bernett Lee
Singapore Immunology Network
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Celine Chua
Singapore Immunology Network
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Ser Mei Koh
Singapore Immunology Network
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Nurhashikin YUSOF
Singapore Immunology Network
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Kim Peng Tan
Singapore Immunology Network
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Boris San Luis
Singapore Immunology Network
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Jocelyn Ong
Singapore Immunology Network
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Simon Merid
Karolinska Institutet
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Rachel Ang
Singapore Immunology Network
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Xue Ying Chan
Singapore Immunology Network
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Low Jing
Singapore Immunology Network
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Eliza Terenzani
Singapore Immunology Network
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Josephine Lum
Singapore Immunology Network
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Shihui Foo
Singapore Immunology Network
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Francesca Zolezzi
Singapore Immunology Network
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Annabelle Tay Sok Yan
National University of Singapore Department of Otolaryngology
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Erik Melén
Karolinska Institutet
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Soh Jian Yi
National University of Singapore Department of Paediatrics
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Olaf Rotzschke
Singapore Immunology Network
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Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is strongly associated with a type 2 response, characterized by the cytokines IL-5, IL-4 and IL-13. Several studies have implicated ILC2 and TH2A (CD161+ TH2) but it is not yet entirely clear which subsets are driving the common allergic reactions underlying AR. The objective of this study aims to identify critical pathogenic cell populations associated with AR and to determine their phenotype and functional contribution to disease progression. Methods: We identified integral allergic-specific cell types by transcriptomic sequencing. Whole blood, PBMCs and plasma from a cross-sectional cohort of 216 individuals were analysed by 9-colour flow cytometry and ultra-sensitive cytokine bead arrays using unsupervised clustering algorithms. Clinically active AR cases were further analysed by functional mass cytometry to define phenotype and cytokine secretion (IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL13, IL-17A and IL-22) as well as the expression of the hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthetase (HPGDS). Results: The unbiased analysis revealed that atopy and AR manifestation corelated only with eosinophils, plasma IL-5 and CD161+ TH2 cells. In-depth characterization further revealed that the CD45RB lo CD161+ TH2 subset were most closely associated with severity. This subset is able to concomitantly secrete multiple cytokines including IL-5, IL-13 and IL-4 and has been previously reported to be associated with other eosinophilic allergies. Conclusion: CD45RB lo CD161+ TH2 have key roles in driving the allergic response in AR. Neutralizing the CD45RB lo CD161+ TH2 subset should disrupt the allergic response pathway, thus providing a target for lasting therapeutic interventions.