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June 2020 - Dominika Polak

Dr.in Dominika Polak

MedUni Wien RESEARCHER OF THE MONTH June 2020

A novel role for neutrophils in IgE-mediated allergy: Evidence for antigen presentation in late-phase reactions

Neutrophils are important components of effector and regulatory circuits in innate and adaptive immunity, however, their potential role in allergy has not received much attention so far. Our work proposes a compelling new role for neutrophils in the pathophysiology of IgE-mediated allergy. Upon natural exposure or injection of allergens during allergen-specific immunotherapy, activated mast cells release various mediators which induce the infiltration of neutrophils. The local cytokine milieu prolongs the lifespan of neutrophils and fosters them to internalize, process and present allergen to specific CD4+ effector T-cells. Activated T-cells then release cytokines which trigger allergic inflammation. In summary, we found that neutrophils contribute to allergic inflammatory diseases also through the activation of allergen-specific T-cells.

Selected Literature

  1. Polak, D., C. Hafner, P. Briza, C. Kitzmüller, A. Elbe-Bürger, N. Samadi, M. Gschwandtner, W. Pfützner, G.J. Zlabinger, B. Jahn-Schmid, and B. Bohle. A novel role for neutrophils in IgE-mediated allergy: evidence for antigen-presentation in late-phase reactions. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2019), 143(3):1143-1152.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.06.005                                                      
  2. Polak, D., N. Samadi, C. Vizzardelli, G. Sánchez Acosta, S. Rosskopf, P. Steinberger, B. Jahn-Schmid, and B. Bohle. Neutrophils promote T cell-mediated inflammation in allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2019); 143(5):1923-1925.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.11.035
  3. Samadi,N., Polak, D., Kitzmüller, C., Steinberger, P., Zlabinger G.J., Jahn-Schmid, B. and Bohle, B. T cell-derived cytokines enhance the antigen-presenting capacity of human neutrophils.                European Journal of Immunology (2019); 49(9): 1441–1443. doi: 10.1002/eji.201848057




    Dr. Dominika Polak

    Dr. Dominika Polak
    Medizinische Universität Wien
    Institut für Pathophysiologie und Allergieforschung
    Währinger Gürtel 18-20
    A-1090 Wien

    T: +43 (0)1 40160-51010
    dominika.polak@meduniwien.ac.at