Several studies have provided evidence that activation of
antigen-specific T cells requires interactions between CD28 on T cells and its
ligands, CD80 and CD86, on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). However, the effects of CD80 and CD86 on
cytokine production in patients with
Hymenoptera venom allergy who receive venom immunotherapy remain unclear. We examined the effects of CD80 and CD86 on Th1- and Th2-cytokine production before and after venom immunotherapy in patients with
wasp-venom allergy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with
wasp-venom allergy before and after three months of venom immunotherapy. CD4+ T cells and monocytes were isolated as APCs from PBMCs and were cocultured with
wasp venom in the presence of anti-CD80 or -CD86
blocking antibodies.
Interleukin (IL)-4,
IL-10, and
interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured by
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. The expression of CD80 and CD86 on CD14+ PBMCs was detected by fluorescence-activated cell-sorter analysis. The expression of CD86, but not that of CD80, on CD14+ PBMCs cocultured with
venom increased after three months of venom immunotherapy, but not before venom immunotherapy. Blockade of CD86 reduced
IL-10 production after three months of venom immunotherapy.
IL-10 production promoted by CD86 costimulation may be involved in the mechanism of venom immunotherapy in patients with
venom allergy.