title: Reduced IFNgamma production in response to IL-12 stimulation and/or reduced IL-12 production in atopic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) are important for the regulation of IgE production and that IL-12 induces IFNgamma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  IFNgamma production in response to IL-12 stimulation and IL-12 production were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of atopic patients with various levels of serum IgE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokine production from PBMCs was measured following stimulation with a nonspecific stimulator (phytohemagglutinin: PHA), a specific stimulator (Der f 1) and IL-12 in 17 healthy controls and 23 atopic patients with various serum IgE levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IFNgamma production by IL-12-stimulated PBMCs in the atopic group was lower than that in the control group. Furthermore, the serum IgE level was negatively correlated with IFNgamma production by PBMCs stimulated with IL-12 (P < 0.001), and with IL-12 production by PBMCs stimulated with Der f 1 (P < 0.001). Although the IFNgamma concentrations by PHA-stimulated PBMCs were correlated with those by IL-12-stimulated PBMCs, there were differences in several patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that atopic patients may have some abnormality in the IL-12-IFNgamma loop. It was shown that the elevation in IgE levels in atopic patients may be due to reduced IFNgamma production in response to IL-12 stimulation and/or due to reduced IL-12 production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukao
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seishima
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma