title: Enhanced cytokine generation by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in allergic and asthma subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although preferential expression of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-5, has been described in atopic asthma, the role of IFN-gamma and IL-10 are less clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cytokine pattern of T cell mitogen-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from atopic asthmatic (AA) subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from AA (n = 24), allergic rhinitis (AR) (n = 9), and normals (NL) (n = 9) were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the generation of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and GM-CSF was quantified using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with NL subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the atopic groups had increased generation of both IL-5 (AA, P = .001 and AR, P = .024) and IFN-gamma (AA, P = .037 and AR, P = .048) and decreased generation of IL-10 (AA, P = .038 and AR, P = .036). The absolute levels of cytokines did not differ between the two atopic groups; however, the ratio of IL-5/IL-10 was significantly higher in AA (P < .05), but not in AR when compared with NL subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concomitant increase in the generation of IL-5 and IFN-gamma, with a decrease in IL-10 in the atopic groups suggests that in, at least a subset of these patients, there is potential expression of both Th2- and Th1-type cytokines. Furthermore, the increased IL-5 to IL-10 ratio could represent a key feature that distinguishes atopic asthmatic from non-asthmatic atopic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Jarjour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor