Correction to “Increase in the prevalence of follicular regulatory T cells correlates with clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with house dust mites”

Abstract

Murao T, Kouzaki H, Arai H, et al. Increase in the prevalence of follicular regulatory T cells correlates with clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with house dust mites. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2024;14:57−67. doi:10.1002/alr.23221

In the article cited above, the authors have determined that the legends for Figures 3 and 5 had incorrect parts, some methods were omitted in the online supplementary materials, and one reference was cited incorrectly.

The corrected figure legends appear below; the online supplementary materials have been revised and published online.

DISCUSSION

Page 64, right column, second paragraph, line 6: Yao et al.¹⁸ reported that Tfr cells regulate antigen-specific IgE production and that the prevalence and decreased function of Tfr cells recovered following SCIT.²¹

Should be changed to: Yao et al.²¹ reported that Tfr cells regulate antigen-specific IgE production and that the prevalence and decreased function of Tfr cells recovered following SCIT.²¹

Page 64, right column, second paragraph, line 14: These results are consistent with those of a previous study showing a key role for Tfr cells in SCIT.¹⁸

Should be changed to: These results are consistent with those of a previous study showing a key role for Tfr cells in SCIT.²¹

Figure legend 3

Serum concentrations of house dust mite (HDM)–specific IgA, IgE, and IgG4 antibodies. (A) Prior to treatment, the serum concentrations of HDM-specific IgE were significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) than in healthy controls (HCs; HC: 0.08 ± 0.01 optimal density [OD] value, AR: 0.99 ± 0.08 OD value), while no significant difference was detected in serum concentrations of HDM-specific IgA (HC: 0.68 ± 0.05 OD value, AR: 0.69 ± 0.04 OD value) and HDM-specific IgG4 (HC: 1.17 ± 0.14 OD value, AR: 1.31 ± 0.15 OD value). (B) Changes in serum concentrations of HDM-specific IgA, IgE, and IgG4 in patients with AR before and after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Serum concentrations of HDM-specific IgA and IgG4 were significantly increased after 1 year of SLIT; those of HDM-specific IgE did not change significantly after SLIT. Comparisons of data from two independent groups were performed using a two-tailed Mann–Whitney U-test. Paired data were analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05; ns, not significant. Where indicated, values are provided as mean ± standard error of the mean.

Figure legend 5

(A) Total nasal ocular symptom score (TNOSS) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) before and after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Both symptom scores were significantly improved after 1 year of SLIT. (B) Correlation between the improvements in TNOSS and VAS scores, and the prevalence of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4)+ T-cell subsets (follicular regulatory T [Tfr], type 2 helper T [Th2], and type 1 regulatory T [Tr1] cells); and HDM-induced production of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-10 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as assessed in patients with AR before and after SLIT. The improvements in both symptom scores correlated positively with increases in the ratio of Tfr cells to Tfh cells (post-Tfr cells/pre-Tfr cells). No correlation was detected between either symptom score or changes in the prevalences of Tr1 and Th2 cells, and HDM-induced production of IL-5 and IL-10. Correlations were assessed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. *p < 0.05.

The authors regret these errors.