Abnormal production of T helper 2 cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 by T cells from newborns with atopic parents.
T cell clones were generated from umbelical cord blood lymphocytes (UCBL) of nine newborns with atopic or nonatopic parents and their cytokine secretion profile was assessed. Both phytohemagglutinin-induced and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific T cell clones from newborns with atopic parents exhibited an enhanced ability to produce the Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, compared to T cell clones from newborns with nonatopic parents. In contrast, the ability to produce interferon-gamma by UCBL from the two groups of newborns was not different. Of the five children who could be followed up to 3 years after birth, four with atopic parents developed clinical and/or biological atopic manifestations, whereas one without atopic parents did not. Thus, the pronounced production of IL-4 and IL-5 by UCBL not only appears to be related to the atopic status of parents, but also associates with the subsequent development of atopy in childhood.
Institute of Internal Medicine and Immunoallergology, University of Florence, Italy.
M P
MP
Piccinni
L
L
Beloni
L
L
Giannarini
C
C
Livi
G
G
Scarselli
S
S
Romagnani
E
E
Maggi
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4