A study on rIL-4 and IFN-gamma regulating IgE synthesis in bronchial asthma patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cytokines responsible for pathophysiology of asthma.


METHODS
In vitro effects of recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on synthesis of immunoglobulin E (IgE) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied in 30 asthmatic patients and 25 normal controls.


RESULTS
Spontaneous IgE synthesis by PBMC significantly increased in patients with asthma compared with the controls (t = 4.471, P < 0.001). Although the maximum amounts of IgE synthesis using PBMC after stimulation with rIL-4 were almost the same in the patients with asthma and in the controls (P > 0.05), the enhancement rate of rIL-4-induced IgE synthesis was lower in the asthma patients than in the controls (t = 4.6719, P > 0.005). IFN-gamma suppressed both spontaneous and rIL-4-induced IgE synthesis by PBMC in the asthma patients. The suppressive effect on IgE synthesis was more prominent in the patients with asthma than in the controls (t = 7.1833, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma attacks are related to IgE-dependent trigger mechanism. The imbalance of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in vivo is the cause of elevated IgE than can produce mediators release and asthma attacks. IFN-gamma can inhibit IgE synthesis, so IFN-gamma may be a new approach to the treatment of asthma.
Liu
X
X
First Affiliated Hospital to Lanzhou Medical College, China.
Xing
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma