Figure 7.

Increased T helper 1 (Th1) subset in a peanut-specific co-culture model upon exposure of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to CpG, while CRTH2 is downregulated. Gating strategy of Th1 and CRTH2⁺ cells (A). The Th1 subset of the aspecific co-culture model was not affected after CpG exposure of IECs (B). In the peanut-specific model, IECs exposed to CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) mediated an increase in the basolateral Th1 population, which was further enhanced by short- and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS/lcFOS) (FF) (C). A representative patient shows that the percentage of Th2 cells was higher in the peanut-specific model (D,E). A significant decrease in surface marker CRTH2 in the peanut-specific peripheral mononuclear cells fraction was observed, after apical exposure of IECs to CpG ODN, which was further decreased by scFOS/lcFOS (F). Reduction of Lin⁻CD123⁺CD127⁻ coincided with a reduction in CRTH2 expression in this cell subset (G). N = 15 peanut-allergic patients, mean ± SEM, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA, scGOS/lcFOS (GF).