Enhanced TH2-like peripheral adaptive immune responses in Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (JORRP)

Background: Defects in the adaptive immune response to human papillomavirus-6 and -11 are among the most important mechanisms for Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (JORRP) development. However, the percentage of CD8+ T cells and peripheral TH1/TH2 immune responses in Juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis is still not well addressed due to limited sample sizes. Methods: Twenty-three patients who were diagnosed with JORRP and underwent surgical intervention at the Beijing TongRen Hospital from October 2015 to March 2016 were enrolled in our study. The CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) T cells in periphery blood were measured by flow cytometry. Intracellular staining was also performed to determine IFN-gamma and IL-4 secretion by CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+) T cells. Serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels were measured by ELISA. Results: We found that the proportions of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood of JORRP patients were comparable to that of healthy controls. Moreover, after PMA stimulation, there was no significant change in IFNy secretion by either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells. The secretion of IL-4 but not IFN-gamma by CD4(+) T cells was increased, and the serum IL-4 levels were elevated in JORRP patients. Conclusion: We conclude that only T(H)2 responses were enhanced but that the T(H)1 responses did not change in the peripheral immunity of JORRP patients.