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.
Piccinni
M P
MP
Institute of Internal Medicine and Immunoallergology, University of Florence, Italy.
Beloni
L
L
Giannarini
L
L
Livi
C
C
Scarselli
G
G
Romagnani
S
S
Maggi
E
E
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