title: Gamma-interferon production in cow milk allergy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop an assay to assist in the diagnosis of delayed onset of adverse responses to cow milk in children, by measurement of gamma-interferon (GIFN) produced in vitro in response to beta-lactoglobulin-stimulated blood mononuclear cells. Diagnostic procedures identified 75 children with immediate reactions who had high total IgE and IgE-isotype responses to cow milk, 17 children who developed reactions after 24 h and had low total IgE and low IgE-isotype response to cow milk, and 59 milk-tolerant children. GIFN production was less in children with immediate reactions compared to those with late reactions (P < 0.009), or milk-tolerant children (P = 0.022). The results of this study suggest enhanced T-cell reactivity may be involved in the immuno-pathogenesis of non-immediate cow milk allergy, but GIFN production was not a clinically useful diagnostic test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, CSIRO Division of Animal Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hosking
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007371:Interferon-gamma