[Immunological aspects of asthmatic children in remission].
Allergen-activated T cells secrete several kinds of bioactive lymphokines such as IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5 and IFN-gamma. They function as helpers in IgE production involved in immediate type hypersensitivity and/or effector cells in delayed type hypersensitivity in allergic patients. The acquisition of interleukin 2 (IL2) responsiveness by specific antigen-stimulated cells is generally an essential event for the induction of specific immunological phenomena. To investigate the immunological changes in asthmatic children in remission, the induction of IL2-responsiveness and production by Df (Dermatophagoides farinae)-stimulated patient lymphocytes, and Df-induced IFN-gamma production by patient lymphocytes were evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups. The remission group (I) consisted of those patients who had had no or only a few asthmatic attacks for more than 2 years without medication. The group of active asthma were divided into 2 groups according to attack frequency and severity (II, partial remission; III, active asthma). IL2 responsiveness and production by Df-stimulated lymphocytes from group II and III were increased. As symptoms improved, the extent of the response subsided to a level comparable to that of normal individuals (group III). IFN-gamma production by Df-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with active asthma was lower than that of normal lymphocytes. In contrast, lymphocytes from patients in complete remission group (I) induced far greater IFN-gamma generation than those from normal and group II and III patients in a Df antigen-dependent manner, which might downregulate Df-induced hyperreactivity for Df-mediated allergic response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Noma
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Saitama Medical School.
Yoshizawa
I
I
Kou
K
K
Nakamura
Y
Y
Kawano
Y
Y
Nakajima
T
T
Itoh
M
M
Maeda
K
K
Ichikawa
K
K
Yamaguchi
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D012074:Remission Induction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma