Alterations on peripheral blood B cell subsets induced by allergic rhinitis

Objectives and design Here we evaluated whether allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus induces alterations on circulating B cell subsets. Materials and methods Circulating B cell subsets and isotype expression on antigen-experienced B cells from allergic patients under conventional pharmacological treatment (NO-SIT, n = 15) and under subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT, n = 33), and non-allergic subjects (NC, n = 25) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results In allergic patients, we found a significant decrease in IgM + and IgG + memory B cells and an increase in IgA + memory B cells. Additionally, the numbers of circulating IgA + plasmablasts in allergic patients were also increased, while those cells expressing IgM were reduced. Conclusions Allergic patients have a disturbed B cell subsets distribution which seems to underlie rhinitis pathogenesis and remain unchanged after SCIT.