Identification and analysis of peanut-specific effector T and regulatory T cells in children allergic and tolerant to peanut

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Peanut allergy (PA) is potentially life-threatening and generally persists for life. Recent data suggest the skin might be an important route of initial sensitization to peanut, whereas early oral exposure to peanut is protective. In mice regulatory T (Treg) cells are central to the development of food tolerance, but their contribution to the pathogenesis of food allergy in human subjects is less clear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to quantify and phenotype CD4+ peanut-specific effector T (ps-Teff) cells and peanut-specific regulatory T (ps-Treg) cells in children with and without PA or PS. METHODS: ps-Teff and ps-Treg cells were identified from peripheral blood of children with PA, chil..