title: The effect of allergen immunotherapy on in vitro IL-4 and IFN-gamma production by peripheral mononuclear cells in house dust-sensitive Chinese patients with bronchial asthma.
abstract: The IFN-gamma produced by Th1 cells and IL-4 produced by Th2 cells are two most important cytokines in the regulation of IgE production. House dust immunotherapy has been tried in the treatment of house dust-sensitive Chinese asthmatic patients with good results. We examined the influence of such treatment on in vitro IL-4 and IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in house dust-sensitive asthmatic patients. Allergen immunotherapy in house-dust sensitive asthmatic patients can significantly decrease IL-4 production from peripheral mononuclear cells (p<0.05). The production levels of IL-4 in patients without treatment had higher levels than those in patients with hyposensitization (p<0.01). Such therapy also have some effect on promotion of IFN-gamma production in asthmatic patients. In conclusion, immunotherapy with house dust may have the potential ability to shift the Th1/Th2 balance of immune response to allergens and to create a favorable cytokine microenvironment to suppress the allergic reaction in the asthmatic airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma