Decreased production of IFN gamma and increased production of IL-6 by cord blood mononuclear cells of newborns with a high risk of allergy.
BACKGROUND
The underlying mechanisms of elevated IgE level in atopic patients are still obscure, however, extensive efforts have been tried to identify an immunological parameter as a predictor of atopy.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared the difference in cytokine production by cord blood mononuclear cells between new borns with high-risk of allergy (family allergy score, FAS > or = 3) and those with low-risk (FAS = 0).


METHODS
Following stimulation with PHA (100 micrograms/mL) and PMA (1 ng/mL), the cytokines produced by cord blood CD4+ T cells in the presence of monocytes were measured by ELISA kits and the mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.


RESULTS
Our results showed: CD4+ T cells in the presence of monocytes and isolated monocytes from the high-risk group produced a much greater amount of IL-6, either spontaneously or after stimulation, than did those of the low-risk group; CD4+ T cells of low-risk group produced a significantly greater amount of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) than did those from the high-risk group; IL-4 cannot be detected by ELISA kit, and only a trace amount of IL-4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR technique; cord blood basophils stimulated with PHA and PMA could produce a significant amount of IL-4; there was an inverse correlation between the production of IFN gamma and cord blood IgE level (high-risk group, r = 0.647, n = 17) and the number of natural killer (NK) cells (CD3- CD16+ CD56+) was significantly lower in high-risk group than for low-risk group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggested increased production of IL-6 and decreased production of IFN gamma of cord blood mononuclear cells appear to be the hallmark of newborns from the high-risk population.
Liao
S Y
SY
Graduate Institute of Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC.
Liao
T N
TN
Chiang
B L
BL
Huang
M S
MS
Chen
C C
CC
Chou
C C
CC
Hsieh
K H
KH
D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma