Enhanced T_H2-like peripheral adaptive immune responses in Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (JORRP)

Defects in the adaptive immune response to human papillomavirus-6 and -11 are among the most important mechanisms for Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (JORRP) development. However, the percentage of CD8+ T cells and peripheral TH1/TH2 immune responses in Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis is still not well addressed due to limited sample sizes.

Twenty-three patients who were diagnosed with JORRP and underwent surgical intervention at the Beijing TongRen Hospital from October 2015 to March 2016 were enrolled in our study. The CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ T cells in periphery blood were measured by flow cytometry. Intracellular staining was also performed to determine IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion by CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ T cells. Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were measured by ELISA.

We found that the proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood of JORRP patients were comparable to that of healthy controls. Moreover, after PMA stimulation, there was no significant change in IFN-γ secretion by either CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells. The secretion of IL-4 but not IFN-γ by CD4⁺ T cells was increased, and the serum IL-4 levels were elevated in JORRP patients.

We conclude that only T_H2 responses were enhanced but that the T_H1 responses did not change in the peripheral immunity of JORRP patients.