IL-4 and interferon-gamma production in children with atopic disease.
In vitro studies have implicated reciprocal roles for IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the regulation of IgE production. As elevated IgE is a major feature of atopic disease, an important question is whether an imbalance of IL-4 and IFN-gamma is present in vivo. The production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from atopic children was examined to determine if there is an increased production of IL-4 and/or a reduced production of IFN-gamma. Highly atopic children with IgE > 600 U/ml produced significantly more IL-4 and less IFN-gamma in vitro than age-matched non-atopic controls. Production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in mildly atopic children was equivalent to controls. These findings indicate that highly atopic children have an imbalance of IL-4 and IFN-gamma production and that the degree of imbalance relates to severity of the atopic state. The ratio of in vitro IL-4: IFN-gamma production correlated positively with serum IgE, which suggests that the balance of these two cytokines is a factor in the regulation of IgE, in vivo. It remains to be determined whether this imbalance of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the highly atopic children is the cause or result of the disease process.
Tang
M
M
Department of Immunology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Kemp
A
A
Varigos
G
G
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology
D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma