This study aims to evaluate the effector function and expression of TIGIT and PD-1 on Tregs, as well as the Th2/Treg ratio, in patients with allergic conjunctivitis with and without desensitization therapy, compared to healthy controls.
Peripheral blood and tear samples will be collected once at enrollment. Treg and Th2 populations will be immunophenotyped, TIGIT and PD-1 expression assessed, and functional assays performed. Cytokine and antibody (IgE, IgG4) concentrations will be measured in serum and tears.
Results will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test for distribution, t-tests or ANOVA for group comparisons, and correlation analyses for associations, with p\<0.05 considered significant. This study seeks to identify immunological markers associated with disease severity and treatment response, potentially informing future therapeutic strategies.
Subjects aged between 5 and 30 years, of either sex.
Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis.
Presence of active symptoms.
Positive skin tests.
Subjects who have had an infection within the two months prior to sample collection.
Patients with other active systemic allergic diseases (such as bronchial asthma, dermatitis, among others).
Subjects with chronic-degenerative or autoimmune diseases.
Subjects who have received topical immunosuppressive treatment in the last two months.