title: Effect of bronchial allergen challenge on in vitro cytokine release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the pollen season, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from allergic patients produce increased levels of Th2 cytokines after stimulation with allergen in vitro. We have studied the effect of a single bronchial provocation test (BPT) of allergic patients to determine whether allergen challenge in vivo modulates cytokine production by PBMC, after subsequent stimulation with the same allergen in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve atopic asthmatic patients were challenged with the relevant allergen, and their PBMC, isolated before (T0) or 6 (T6) or 24 h (T24) after BPT, respectively, were cultured for 120 h in the presence or absence of the same allergen, after which cytokine production was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allergen-specific activation of the PBMC at T0 resulted in interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 production, but not in detectable levels of interferon-gamma and IL-4. BPT did not induce the secretion of the latter cytokines. However, IL-5 and IL-13 production was significantly decreased at T24, as compared to T0. No statistically significant differences were found between the production of IL-10 before and after BPT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the effects of natural challenge with allergen, a decrease in the production of some Th2 cytokines by peripheral blood T cells was observed 24 h after BPT, suggesting a concomitant decrease in the frequency of allergen-specific T cells in the circulation.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U. 454, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abbal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Persi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yssel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pène
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D002273:Carcinogens; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007476:Ionophores; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000001:Calcimycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate