Aberrant T cell regulation of IgE production in atopy.
Atopy is associated with elevated serum levels of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE production is preferentially induced by the T cell-derived lymphokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) and is suppressed by interferon and prostaglandins, of which interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is produced by T cells. We review our studies on the question of whether atopy is associated with CD4+ allergen-specific T cells with an unbalanced lymphokine production. We prepared panels of housedust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus)-specific T lymphocyte clones (TLC) from atopic and non-atopic individuals and found that TLC from housedust mite-allergic patients produced IL-4 but not IFN-gamma, whereas such TLC from a non-atopic individual produced IFN-gamma and only in some cases small amounts of IL-4. Candida albicans- and tetanus toxoid-specific TLC, established from one of the atopic donors, also produced IFN-gamma without IL-4, suggesting that the atopic state is characterized by a defective accumulation of IL-4-producing CD4+ T lymphocytes into the allergen-specific T cell repertoire.
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M L
ML
Kapsenberg
E A
EA
Wierenga
J D
JD
Bos
H M
HM
Jansen
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D008222:Lymphokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E