D3.353 - An EAACI Task Force Scoping Review: Human Monocytes and Macrophages in Allergy – Implications for AllergoOncology

AllergoOncology explores the intersection of allergic diseases and cancer, focusing on shared immune mechanisms. Monocytes and macrophages exhibit high heterogeneity, plasticity, and functional diversity across tissues and disease contexts, including allergic and malignant conditions. In cancer, myeloid cells are well studied and implicated in disease prognosis; however, their roles in allergic disorders remain less understood. 

A literature search was conducted across PubMed and Web of Science databases, targeting human in vivo and ex vivo monocyte and macrophage characteristics in allergy. Studies utilizing animal models, cell lines, in vitro experiments, or lacking a healthy control group for comparison were excluded. Our search targeted original research articles published in English between 2002 and 2024. The content of the final selected publications was systematically analyzed using a custom-developed R pipeline for data processing and analysis.

This scoping review systematically analyzed 138 articles, identifying 451 molecules associated with monocyte and macrophage responses in allergic disorders including allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis. Findings revealed a research bias toward blood-derived samples and the underrepresentation of tissue-resident macrophages. Semantic similarity and pathway enrichment analyses showed shared molecular signatures among major disorders, emphasizing interleukin signaling and immune activation pathways. Distinct molecular profiles in less-studied conditions, such as allergic alveolitis and food allergy, highlight their smaller representation and stress the need for more comprehensive research. To enhance data accessibility, the Allergy Linking Oncology Human Analyses (ALO•HA) shiny app was developed for interactive data analysis (video abstract). This tool fosters reproducibility and translational potential for both researchers and clinicians.

Our findings underscore the need for integrative approaches, combining omics technologies and human-based studies, to better characterize monocyte and macrophage phenotypes in allergic disorders. This work represents a step forward to bridge allergy and oncology, addressing critical gaps and offering opportunities for innovative therapeutic development.