Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies precise tolerogenic cellular and molecular pathways induced by depigmented-polymerized grass pollen allergen extract.

Background: Immunologic mechanism of action of allergoids remains poorly understood. Previous models of allergenicity and immunogenicity have yielded suboptimal knowledge of these immunotherapeutic vaccine products. Novel single-cell RNA sequencing technology offers a bridge to this gap in knowledge.

Induction of IL-10-producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells by allergen immunotherapy is associated with clinical response.

The role of innate immune cells in allergen immunotherapy that confers immune tolerance to the sensitizing allergen is unclear. Here, we report a role of interleukin-10-producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells (IL-10 ILC2s) in modulating grass-pollen allergy. We demonstrate that KLRG1 but not KLRG1 ILC2 produced IL-10 upon activation with IL-33 and retinoic acid.

Altered chromatin landscape in circulating T follicular helper and regulatory cells following grass pollen subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy.

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is a disease-modifying treatment that induces long-term T-cell tolerance.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the role of circulating CXCR5PD-1 T follicular helper (cT) and T follicular regulatory (T) cells following grass pollen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and the accompanying changes in their chromatin landscape.

Methods: Phenotype and function of cT cells were initially evaluated in the grass pollen-allergic (GPA) group (n = 28) and nonatopic healthy controls (NAC, n = 13) by mathematical algorithms developed to manage high-dimensional data and cell culture, respectively.

Predictors of asthma relapse in patients who attended an emergency department.

Background: Patients with asthma exacerbations and frequent relapses that require admission to the emergency department (ED) often have more severe disease, worse quality of life, and higher use of health care resources.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify potential predictors of relapse after patients are treated in an ED for an asthma exacerbation.

Methods: A retrospective, noninterventional cohort study was conducted in adult patients who attended the ED of a tertiary hospital in 2014 for an asthma exacerbation.

Bronchiectasis in severe asthma: Clinical features and outcomes.

Background: Bronchiectasis is increasingly being identified in patients with severe asthma and could contribute to disease severity.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bronchiectasis in a population of patients with severe asthma and to better characterize the clinical features of these patients and their outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical files of 184 subjects with confirmed severe asthma who had undergone high-resolution thoracic computed tomography and compared the characteristics and outcomes of subjects with and without bronchiectasis.