Table 1.
Type | Cell | Role in cow's milk allergy |
---|---|---|
Innate cells | Tissue mast cells | Act as key effectors during allergy. Upon Ig-E or Ig-fLC cross-linking with allergen, 3 classes of biologically active product are secreted [15] as follows. (1) Prestored cytoplasmic granules: (a) biogenic amines (e.g., histamine), (b) serglycin proteoglycans (e.g., heparin and chondroitin sulphate), (c) serine proteases (tryptases, chymases, and carboxypeptidases), (d) some cytokines (e.g., TNF-α and VEGFA). (2) Lipid-derived mediators (prostaglandins, leukotriene B4, cysteinyl leukotrienes, and platelet-activating factors). (3) Newly synthesized factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors). |
Basophils | Act as key effectors during allergy. Similar to mast cells, upon cross-linkage of IgE, 3 types of mediators can be released [13] as follows. (1) Preformed, immediately released (e.g., histamine). (2) Newly synthesized, immediately released (phospholipid metabolites including leukotriene C4). (3) Newly synthesized, slowly released (cytokines including IL-4). |
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Eosinophils | Act as key effectors during allergy. Upon activation with cytokine (e.g., IL-5), highly basic and cytotoxic granule proteins are secreted [21] as follows. (1) Major basic protein/MBP and MBP2. (2) Eosinophilic cationic protein/ECP. (3) Eosinophilic peroxidase/EPX. (4) Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin/EDN. |
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Inflammatory dendritic cells/DCs | Act as the initiator of
T
H
2-cell response during allergy. Inflammatory DCs uptake and process allergens, subsequently presenting allergen-derived peptides to naïve CD4+ T cells. In the presence of IL-4, DCs polarizing naïve CD4+ T become TH2 cells. |
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Other innate cells (neutrophils, NK, MAIT, and γδ T cells) |
Unknown roles. | |
| ||
Adaptive cells | CD4+ TH2 cells | Act as the driver of allergic inflammation. Through cell-contact and cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), TH2 cells promote immunoglobulin class-switch recombination in B cells to drive IgE production. |
CD4+ TReg cells | Act as the suppressor of allergic inflammation, via [60] the following. (1) Suppression of tissue mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils. (2) Suppression of inflammatory DCs and induction of tolerogenic DCs. (3) Suppression of allergen-specific TH2 cells. (4) Early induction of IgG4 and late decrease in IgE. |
|
B cells | Act as the codriver of allergic inflammation along with TH2 cells by secreting IgE and Ig-fLCs. | |
Other CD4+ and CD8+ T cells |
Unknown roles. |