The frequency of cells secreting interferon-gamma and interleukin-4, -5, and -10 in the blood and duodenal mucosa of children with cow's milk hypersensitivity.
Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant spots (ELISPOTs) have been used to analyze the frequency of cells spontaneously secreting interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10 in mononuclear cells isolated from the blood of children with cow's milk-sensitive enteropathy (CMSE), cow's milk allergy (CMA), and age-matched controls. In addition, cytokine profiles of duodenal lamina propria lymphocytes were compared in patients with CMSE and control subjects. In blood, spontaneous cytokine-secreting cells were uncommon, but there was significantly increased IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 ELISPOTs in children with CMSE and CMA compared with control subjects. IL-4 ELISPOTs were significantly greater in the blood of children with CMA compared with those with CMSE. In the lamina propria the frequencies of spontaneous cytokine-secreting cells were high compared with that in blood. Significantly increased ELISPOTs for IFN-gamma and IL-4 were found in CMSE compared with controls. IL-5 ELISPOTs were unchanged, and IL-10 ELISPOTs were reduced in CMSE compared with controls. These results show a general enhancement of Th1 and Th2-type cytokine-secreting cells in the blood of children with cow's milk hypersensitivity, although the increased IL-4-secreting cells in blood in CMA may be of relevance in view of the fact that this disease is IgE-mediated. In the lamina propria, there is also enhancement of IFN-gamma- and IL-4-secreting cells in CMSE compared with control subjects; however, cells secreting IFN-gamma are 10 times more numerous than cells secreting IL-4, showing a dominance of Th1-type responses in both controls and CMSE patients.
Hauer
A C
AC
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, St. Bartholomews and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, St. Bartholomews Hospital, United Kingdom.
Breese
E J
EJ
Walker-Smith
J A
JA
MacDonald
T T
TT
D000818:Animals; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015848:Interleukin-5; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003513:Cycloheximide