Oral immunotherapy directs systemic transcriptomic changes in children with hen's egg allergy.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Hen's egg allergy (HEA) is a common childhood food allergy.
• Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a potential treatment for HEA.
• The immunological mechanisms of HE-OIT are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the systemic immune phenotype in children with HEA.
• Examine transcriptomic changes during HE-OIT.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
• 16 children aged 3-12 years with HEA were enrolled.
• Samples collected before and after OIT build-up phase.

Main Results:

• All 8 patients with post-OIT samples achieved desensitization.
• OIT reduced CD4+ T cells but increased late-activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
• Increased regulatory T cells with IKZF2 expression observed post-OIT.

Conclusions:

• HE-OIT induces systemic immune cell transcriptomic changes.
• These immune alterations are likely responsible for OIT efficacy in HEA.