title: Interleukin-4, soluble CD23 and interferon-gamma levels in serum during the first 18 months of life.
abstract: Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma and soluble CD23 (sCD23) were analysed in a prospective study of 64 infants monitored from birth to 18 months of age. The levels were low at birth and then increased, reaching a peak at either 6 or 9 months and then decreased up to 18 months of age. The children who developed atopic disease during the first 18 months of life had significantly higher IL-4 median levels than those who did not. No relationship was seen between the levels of sCD23 and IFN-gamma and allergy. Thus, the IL-4 levels in serum, but not sCD23 and IFN-gamma, were associated with allergic disease in infancy. Elevated levels were recorded before the onset of clinical symptoms, indicating that atopic disease is associated with a primary deviation of T cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstén
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Borres
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Einarsson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000032:analysis*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D017455:Receptors, IgE; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma