Baseline basophil activation and early suppression is associated with clinical outcome after peanut sublingual immunotherapy

Abstract

Background

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was recently shown to safely induce desensitization and remission of peanut allergy in 1- to 4-year-old children.

Objective

Basophil activation has been shown to be suppressed in allergen-specific immunotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the timing of basophil suppression during peanut SLIT and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods

A total of 50 children with peanut allergy were enrolled in a peanut SLIT trial and randomized to active peanut or placebo SLIT for 36 months followed by a 3-month avoidance period to evaluate remission. To measure basophil activation by CD63 and CD203c, blood was collected at baseline and again at 12, 24, 36, and 39 months.

Results

For participants receiving peanut SLIT, basophil activation based on CD63 expression was significantly reduced by 12 months and continued to decrease throughout peanut SLIT, whereas CD63 activation in participants receiving placebo remained unchanged from 0 to 36 months. CD203c expression remained unchanged for both peanut SLIT and placebo participants throughout the trial. Actively treated participants who achieved remission had lower CD63 expression at baseline and significant suppression of CD63 expression by 12 months, whereas participants who failed treatment had higher CD63 expression at baseline and lack of suppression by 12 months. Lower basophil activation in those achieving remission, compared to those who failed treatment, remained present for up to 3 years.

Conclusions

Following peanut SLIT, participants who achieved remission had significantly suppressed basophil activation by 12 months compared to unsuccessful participants who were not desensitized, suggesting that early suppression of basophils may be indicative of peanut SLIT efficacy.