Allergens induce activation of blood CCR3+granulocyte subsets in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis

WANG Qiuli; XU Weihua; GU Fangqiu; WANG Siqin; HE Shaoheng; WANG Junling

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.02.16

Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of allergens on activation of blood CCR3+granulocyte subtypes in patients with allergic rhinitis(AR).Methods Flow cytometry was used to examine the effects of allergens on CD63 and CD203c expressions on CCR3+CD203c-eosinophils and CCR3+CD203c+basophils of AR patients.Plasma levels of IL-25 and TSLP of the patients were detected with multiplex immunoassay and ELISA,respectively,and their correlations with eosinophils and basophils were analyzed.RNA-sequencing of blood CD16-granulocytes from AR patients was performed,and enrichment analysis was used to explore the functions and potential mechanisms of the differentially expressed genes.Results The percentages of eosinophils and basophils in CCR3+granulocytes increased significantly in AR patients(P<0.005),and exposure to allergens further upregulated the percentage of basophils(P<0.005).CD63 expression was significantly increased in patients with seasonal AR(sAR)and perennial AR(pAR)(P<0.005)but not in AR patients negative for skin prick test(nAR).Allergen exposures enhanced the expressions of CD63 and CD203c on eosinophils and basophils in pAR patients(P<0.005).Elevated plasma IL-25 and TSLP levels in AR patients were associated with increased eosinophil and basophil counts(P<0.005).The 3999 differentially expressed genes in CD16-granulocytes from AR patients positive for skin prick test(SPT+)were involved in protein synthesis,energy metabolism and immune function and in endocytosis,phagosome and carbon metabolism pathways.Conclusion The findings in this study enrich the understanding of the roles of CCR3+eosinophils and basophils in the pathogenesis of SPT+AR and reveal potential therapeutic targets for AR.