通过转录组学阐明对橄榄花粉过敏致敏的分子机制。

文献信息

中文摘要

背景： 橄榄花粉过敏是地中海地区季节性过敏性鼻炎和哮喘的主要原因，由于橄榄种植的扩大，其在全球范围内正变得越来越重要。尽管其具有重大的公共卫生影响，但对橄榄花粉致敏的分子机制仍知之甚少。
方法： 在本研究中，使用RNA测序对来自过敏患者和健康对照的体外刺激外周血白细胞（PBLs）进行转录组分析，以识别过敏个体中由橄榄花粉引发的基因表达变化。随后在独立队列中通过RT-qPCR进行验证，以确认所选DEGs的表达模式。
结果： 在患者组中独家发现了37个差异表达基因（DEGs）。在独立队列中通过RT-qPCR验证确认了所选DEGs的表达模式。功能富集分析将这些DEGs与免疫途径、骨化过程和细胞因子活性相关联。值得注意的是，上调基因如AREG、IL31RA和IL18R1与TH2反应和哮喘发病机制相关，而下调基因包括GREM1和CCL1与趋化性和免疫调节有关。蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（PPI）网络和枢纽基因分析突出了过敏性炎症的潜在分子驱动因素。染色体定位显示DEGs聚集在先前与哮喘易感性相关的染色体上。此外，探索性相关分析确定了TGM2表达与总IgE之间的相关性，以及SHROOM2表达与Ole e 7特异性IgE之间的相关性，突出这些基因作为未来评估的候选者。
结论： 总体而言，本研究为橄榄花粉过敏的转录组景观提供了新的见解，识别了候选生物标志物和生物学途径，这些对于改善诊断和推进过敏性疾病个性化治疗策略具有转化相关性。

英文摘要

BACKGROUND: Olive pollen allergy, a leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma in Mediterranean regions, is becoming increasingly relevant worldwide due to the expansion of olive cultivation. Despite its significant public health impact, the molecular mechanisms underlying sensitization to olive pollen remain poorly understood.
METHODS: In this study, RNA sequencing was used to perform transcriptomic profiling on in vitro-stimulated Peripheral Blood Leukocytes (PBLs) from both allergic patients and healthy controls, to identify gene expression changes triggered by olive pollen in allergic individuals. Validation by RT-qPCR was subsequently performed in an independent cohort to confirm the expression patterns of selected DEGs.
RESULTS: A total of 37 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found exclusively in the patient group. Validation by RT-qPCR in an independent cohort confirmed the expression patterns of selected DEGs. Functional enrichment analyses associated these DEGs with immune pathways, ossification processes, and cytokine activity. Notably, upregulated genes such as AREG, IL31RA, and IL18R1 were associated with TH2 responses and asthma pathogenesis, while downregulated genes including GREM1 and CCL1 were related to chemotaxis and immune regulation. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and hub gene analyses highlighted potential molecular drivers of allergic inflammation. Chromosomal mapping revealed clustering of DEGs on chromosomes previously associated with asthma susceptibility. Furthermore, exploratory correlation analyses identified correlation between TGM2 expression and total IgE, and between SHROOM2 expression and Ole e 7-specific IgE, highlighting these genes as candidates for future evaluation.
CONCLUSION: Overall, this study provides new insights into the transcriptomic landscape of olive pollen allergy, identifying candidate biomarkers and biological pathways with translational relevance for improving diagnosis and advancing personalized treatment strategies in allergic diseases.