IgE Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi Components (p18, p31, p34, p41, p45, p60) and Increased Blood CD8⁺CD60⁺ T Cells in Children with Lyme Disease

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of immunology 2007-04, Vol.65 (4), p.376-382
• Main Authors: Bluth, M.H, Robin, J, Ruditsky, M, Norowitz, K.B, Chice, S, Pytlak, E, Nowakowski, M, Durkin, H.G, Smith-Norowitz, T.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Blotting, Western; Borrelia burgdorferi - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lyme Disease - blood; Lyme Disease - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
• ISSN: 0300-9475; 1365-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2007.01904.x

Immunoglobulin (Ig) E may provide immunity against Borrelia burgdorferi infection (Lyme disease) in children which lasts throughout adulthood. We investigated the presence and persistence of IgE anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies (Abs) in paediatric patients infected with Lyme disease over time. Serum immunoglobulin levels, presence of IgG and IgE anti-B. burgdorferi components, and distributions of blood T, B and natural killer lymphocyte subsets were studied in B. burgdorferi-infected and -uninfected children (nephelometry, UniCAP Total IgE Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay, Western blot, flow cytometry). Total serum IgM, IgG, IgE and IgA levels, and distributions of blood lymphocytes (CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD19⁺) of both groups, excluding CD8⁺CD60⁺ T cells, were within normal ranges. However, infected, but not uninfected children made IgG anti-B. burgdorferi proteins p18, p31, p34, p41, p45, but not IgG anti-p60, and IgE anti-B. burgdorferi proteins p31, p34, p41, p45, p60, but not IgE anti-p18. These proteins were also detected in an infected child 1 year post-infection. Interestingly, CD8⁺CD60⁺ T-cell numbers were significantly increased (fourfold) in infected, compared with uninfected, patients (P = 0.001). These results demonstrate that specific IgE anti-B. burgdorferi Abs are generated and persist in children with Lyme disease and that CD8⁺CD60⁺ T cells may play an important role in these responses.