Interleukin 4 and interferon-gamma secretion by antigen and mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cells in the hyper-IgE syndrome: no TH-2 cytokine pattern.
BACKGROUND
Enhanced production of TH-2 cytokines plays a key role in increased IgE production in allergic diseases. Reports about the cytokine profile secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with hyper-IgE syndrome, however, are controversial, suggesting alternative causes for increased IgE production in this syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
We wished to determine whether mononuclear cells from patients with hyper-IgE syndrome have a pattern of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production characteristic of a predominance of TH-2 cells and whether the cytokine production pattern is constant over time.


METHODS
IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and D. pteronyssinus was measured by ELISA in culture supernatants. Patients with the hyper-IgE syndrome were evaluated 3 times at 4-week intervals and compared with asthmatic patients and normal subjects.


RESULTS
In PHA-stimulated cultures, patients with hyper-IgE syndrome had an IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion similar to that of controls, while asthmatic patients had increased IL-4 and decreased IFN-gamma production. Cultures stimulated with D. pteronyssinus showed a variable pattern of secretion for both cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
In allergic diseases, increased serum IgE level is the result of a TH-2 pattern of cytokine production, with high IL-4 and decreased IFN-gamma protein secretion. The increased serum IgE concentration typical of the hyper-IgE syndrome is likely the result of a different immunoregulatory process.
Rodríguez
M F
MF
Immunology Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Columbia.
Patiño
P J
PJ
Montoya
F
F
Montoya
C J
CJ
Sorensen
R U
RU
García de Olarte
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007589:Job Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000737:chemistry
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma