%0 Journal Article
%T Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Promotes Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Expression Contributes to Development of Allergic Rhinitis.
%A Liao Y
%A Zhang X
%A Tao S
%A Wang S
%A Huang Q
%A Tang P
%A Tang A
%A Yang P
%A Yang G
%J Am J Rhinol Allergy
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 2
%M 39093621
%F 2.3
%R 10.1177/19458924241269686
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The Th2 cell polarization is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. The underlying mechanism requires further investigation. Telomerase has an immune-regulating ability. The aim of this study is to elucidate the association between telomerase and Th2 cell polarization in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>CD4+ T cells were isolated from blood samples collected from AR patients and healthy control subjects. RNA sequencing was employed to analyze RNA samples extracted from CD4+ T cells. An AR mouse model was established using the ovalbumin-alum protocol.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>High telomerase gene activity and high endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress status were observed in CD4+ T-cells in patients with AR. Positive correlation between the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene expression in CD4+ T cells and AR response in patients with AR. TERT facilitated the degradation of Foxp3 proteins in CD4+ T cells, resulting in the polarization of Th2 cells. Sensitization with the ovalbumin-alum protocol enhanced the Tert expression in CD4+ T cells by exacerbating ER stress. Conditional inhibition of the Tert or eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-α (Eif2a) expression in CD4+ T cells effectively attenuated experimental AR in mice.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Elevated amounts of telomerase in CD4+ T cells were found in CD4+ T cells of subjects with AR. Telomerase promoted Th2 cell polarization by inducing Foxp3 protein degradation and promotes GATA3 activation. Inhibition of TERT or eIF2a alleviated experimental AR.