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Increased blood group 2 innate lymphoid cells are involved in blood eosinophilia and itching in Kimura disease
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  • Ichiro Tojima,
  • Takuya Murao,
  • Keigo Nakamura,
  • Hiroyuki Arai,
  • Shino Shimizu,
  • Hideaki Kouzaki,
  • Takeshi Shimizu
Ichiro Tojima
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Takuya Murao
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Keigo Nakamura
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Hiroyuki Arai
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Shino Shimizu
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Hideaki Kouzaki
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Takeshi Shimizu
Shiga Ika Daigaku Igakubu
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Abstract

Background: Kimura disease (KD) is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by blood eosinophilia, general itching, and subcutaneous head and neck mass lesions; however, the etiology of this disease is unknown. We hypothesized that group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in peripheral blood may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of KD. Methods: The prevalence of blood ILC2s and their ability to produce interleukin (IL) -4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31 in patients with KD were compared with those in control subjects and in patients with house dust mite (HDM) -induced allergic rhinitis (AR). Changes in blood ILC2 prevalence, blood eosinophilia, and clinical symptoms after surgery and steroid therapy were evaluated. Results: Blood ILC2 prevalence in patients with KD were eight times and six times higher than those in control subjects and in patients with AR, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between ILC2 prevalence and blood eosinophilia. Patients with KD showed increased serum IL-13 and decreased IL-31 levels. KD patient-derived blood ILC2s produced large amounts of IL-5 and IL-13 in response to prostaglandin (PG) D 2 and leukotriene (LT) D 4, compared to ILC2s derived from control subjects and patients with AR. Surgery and systemic steroid therapy ameliorated general itching with a concomitant decrease in blood ILC2s and blood eosinophilia. Upon disease recurrence, blood ILC2 prevalence and blood eosinophilia increased concurrently with general itching. Conclusion: Increased blood ILC2s may be involved in blood eosinophilia and general itching through the production of IL-5 and IL-13 in patients with KD.