title: IgE production in atopic patients is not related to IL-4 production.
abstract: To analyse whether there is a general defect in T or B cell function in atopic individuals we have measured cytokine and IgE production by peripheral blood lymphocytes, isolated from 19 atopic donors (17 asthma/rhinitis and two dermatitis patients) in comparison with 19 non-atopic controls. After stimulation of lymphocytes with anti-CD2 and anti-CD28, we found no significant difference in IL-2, IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. To examine the correlation between the production of IgE and IL-4, we stimulated lymphocytes with anti-CD2 and rIL-2. Under this condition both T cell IL-4 and B cell IgE production can be measured. No significant difference was found for the amount of IgE and IL-4 produced between the two groups (P > 0.05). The non-atopic donors showed a good correlation between IL-4 and IgE production (r = 0.70). Surprisingly, within the atopic group there was no correlation between IgE and IL-4 production at all (r = -0.04). The ratio of IgE to IL-4 was higher (although not significantly) in the atopic group. Our data suggest that in atopic donors IgE production is less dependent on IL-4, and that other cytokines are involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Central Laboratory of The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (CLB), Amsterdam.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: van der Pouw Kraan
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Aalberse
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aarden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma