[A study on using rIL-4 and IFN-gamma to regulate IgE synthesis in bronchial asthma patients in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
In order to elucidate the cytokines responsible for altered IgE producing in patients with asthma.


METHODS
The in vitro effects of recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on synthesis of IgE by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were studied.


RESULTS
Spontaneous IgE synthesis by PBMC was significantly increased in patients with asthma compared with the controls (t = 4. 4712, P < 0.001). Although the maximum amounts of IgE synthesis using PBMC after stimulation with rIL-4 were almost the same both in patients with asthma and in controls (t = 0.0620, P > 0.05), the enhancement rate of rIL-4-induced IgE synthesis was lower in asthma tic patients than in the controls (t = 4. 6719, P < 0.005). IFN-gamma suppressed not only spontaneous but also rIL-4-induced IgE synthesis by PBMC in asthmatic patients. The suppressive effect on IgE synthesis was more prominent in patients with asthma than in the controls (t = 7.1833, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that asthma attacks are related to IgE- dependent trigger mechanism; the imbalance of Il-4 and IFN-gamma in vivo is involved in the development of asthma.
Liu
X
X
Department of Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou Medical College.
Xing
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma