title: T cell subsets and cytokines in allergic and non-allergic children. I. Analysis of IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-13 mRNA expression and protein production.
abstract: Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13 are key cytokines inducing switching to immunoglobulin E (IgE), whereas interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) acts inhibitory on this process. We analysed whether differences existed in IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-13 mRNA expression and protein production between T cells of children with allergic and non-allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis and health control children. IL-4 mRNA expression was increased in stimulated T cells of children with allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis, but not in those with non-allergic asthma as compared with healthy controls. Thus the increase in IL-4 expression can be considered as an underlying mechanism of the allergic disease process and not so much of the asthmatic state of the children. In unstimulated T cells of children with atopic dermatitis increased IFN-gamma mRNA expression with a reduced IFN-gamma protein production was found, indicating a post-translational defect in IFN-gamma. Differences in IL-13 expression between the groups were not significant, but IL-13 was significantly correlated with the height of the radio-allergo-sorbent test (RAST) class and with the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. This indicates the clinical relevance of IL-13 for the degree of allergen-specific sensitization and severity of atopic dermatitis. In conclusion, the imbalance in IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion in patients with atopic dermatitis may reflect general T cell activation in the presence of an intrinsic defect of IFN-gamma secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital; Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koning
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Neijens
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Oranje
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Savelkoul
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D018793:Interleukin-13; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma