Atopy-related immune profiles are subject to genetic influence as evaluated using school-aged twin pairs

The interaction of genetic and environmental contributions to immunological traits and their association with atopic disease remain unclear. Flow cytometry and in vitro cytokine responses were used to characterize immune profiles from 93 school-aged twin pairs. Using an established twin pair analytical strategy, the genetic and environmental influences on immunological traits were evaluated, along with their association with atopy. Our findings suggest strong genetic influence on several traits, particularly B cell abundance. In contrast, cytokine responses from in vitro stimulations appeared mainly shaped by environmental exposures. Regarding associations with atopy, greater abundance of both B cells and basophils were observed in atopic individuals as well as increased expression of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor. Genetic influence appeared central to regulating IgE receptor expression on basophils, whereas expression on dendritic cells instead appeared sensitive to environmental exposures. Identifying environmentally regulated immune traits may facilitate the development of targeted therapies to limit the impact of atopic disease in the future.