PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Paul Stoll
AU  - Anne Baehker
AU  - Martin Ulrich
AU  - Kai Bratke
AU  - Katharina Garbe
AU  - J. Christian Virchow
AU  - Marek Lommatzsch
TI  - Upregulation of the high-affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid dendritic cells in severe COPD
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3614
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA3614
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3614.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3614.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Background: Beneficial effects of the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab in asthma are partly explained by a suppression of the expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs). However, the expression of this receptor on DCs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown.Methods: Using four-colour flow cytometry, high-affinity IgE receptor expression on myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in peripheral blood was analysed in 64 patients with COPD (median age: 65 years; median FEV1: 45.8 % predicted) and in control groups of 41 asymptomatic never-smokers, 21 asymptomatic current smokers and 20 patients with allergic asthma.Results: Asymptomatic current smokers displayed a significantly increased expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on mDCs and pDCs, as compared with never-smokers. In patients with COPD, the expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on pDCs, but not mDCs, increased with from spirometric GOLD stage II to IV, and correlated with lung function impairment. In patients with spirometric GOLD stages III and IV, the expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on pDCs did not significantly differ from patients with allergic asthma. In all groups, there was a significant correlation between total IgE serum concentrations and the expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on pDCs, suggesting that this correlation is a general feature in humans.Conclusion: The elevated expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid DCs in severe COPD is comparable with the expression in allergic asthma. Possible implications of this finding for therapies targeting IgE require further investigation.