Venom immunotherapy modulates interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma messenger RNA expression of peripheral T lymphocytes.
The mechanism by which specific immunotherapy exerts its beneficial effect remains unclear. In order to evaluate the influence of venom immunotherapy on the T-cell cytokine pattern of allergic reactions, we studied interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression of peripheral T lymphocytes from 12 patients undergoing rush venom desensitization, before treatment at Day 0 (D0), at Day 15 (D15) and Day 90 (D90) after treatment, and from seven controls. Antigen-specific T-cell proliferation was also determined. Cytokine mRNA expression was evaluated using in situ hybridization, 24 hr after culture of peripheral T cells with medium, venom, or an unrelated allergen. Allergen-induced T-cell proliferation decreased at D15 and D90 of rush immunotherapy (P < or = 0.02). In venom-stimulated cultures of the patient group, there was a decrease in IL-4 mRNA-positive cells at D15 and D90 (P < or = 0.001). Before desensitization, IFN-gamma mRNA expression was lower in patients than in controls and did not increase after in vitro allergen stimulation. In contrast, after immunotherapy, spontaneous IFN-gamma mRNA expression increased, but only at D90 (P < or = 0.001). The cytokine pattern observed at D90 after immunotherapy was similar to that observed in control subjects. In conclusion, venom immunotherapy induced an altered cytokine mRNA pattern in allergen-stimulated T cells which was dissociated from the early changes of allergen-induced T-cell responsiveness.
Akoum
H
H
Unité INSERM U416, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France.
Tsicopoulos
A
A
Vorng
H
H
Wallaert
B
B
Dessaint
J P
JP
Joseph
M
M
Hamid
Q
Q
Tonnel
A B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma