Influence of Sublingual Immunotherapy on the Expression of Mac-1 Integrin in Neutrophils from Asthmatic Children

Asthma can be effectively treated with sublingual immunotherapy. The influence of sublingual immunotherapy on the function of granulocytes in asthmatic patients is largely unknown. Mac-1 integrin is a transmembrane protein containing alpha (CD11b) and beta (CD18) chains. High expression of the complex is found on the surface of neutrophils, NK cells, and macrophages. CD11b/CD18 may bind to CD23, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and ICAM-4. It plays a crucial role in diapedesis of neutrophils. The aim of the present study was to assess Mac-1 expression on neutrophils from asthmatic children before and after sublingual immunotherapy. Twenty five children aged of 8.1 +/- 3.1 suffering from atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis, shortlisted for specific immunotherapy, served as the study group. Fifteen healthy individuals, aged 9.8 +/- 3.4, served as a control group. The assessment of CD11b and CD18 expression on cells from peripheral blood was performed with a flow cytometer. The tests were performed before and after 12 months of sublingual immunotherapy. In the asthmatic children, 98.08 (90.79-99.12)% of Mac-1 positive neutrophils were detected. The group was divided into two subgroups: of more than 98% and less than 95% of neutrophils with CD11b/CD18 expression in the sample. After immunotherapy, the percentage of Mac-1 positive granulocytes increased to 99.60 (99.29-99.68)%, p = 0.01. In the control group, 90.56 (87.08-88.86)% granulocytes were Mac-1 positive, p = 0.002. We conclude that sublingual immunotherapy strongly influences the function of the immunological system, including Mac-1 expression on neutrophils.