Atopic phenotype in children is associated with decreased virus-induced interferon-alpha release.
BACKGROUND
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production in humans is an early event in the nonspecific cellular response to viruses and mediates a wide range of antiviral and immunoregulatory activities. Little is known about the role of IFN-alpha in allergic disease.


METHODS
In the present study, we performed a retrospective comparative analysis of 88 children with and without an atopic phenotype for virus-induced IFN-alpha production in blood cultures.


RESULTS
We were able to demonstrate that patients with allergic asthma (aA) produced significantly lower amounts of virus-induced IFN-alpha than healthy children and patients with nonallergic asthma (naA). Furthermore, the number of eosinophils in atopic children as a marker for allergic inflammation correlated negatively with the IFN-alpha level in blood cultures. Additionally, we found differences between aA and naA patients with respect to the capacity to produce IFN-gamma. Although atopy is thought to be associated with a Th2 cytokine response, in our study, IFN-gamma release was not reduced in the allergic children. In contrast, patients with allergic rhinitis showed a significant increase in IFN-gamma release compared to naA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, an early atopic phenotype was related to a reduction in virus induced IFN-alpha release from blood cultures. Thus, after further prospective evaluation, the IFN-alpha level may serve as an additional in vitro marker for the definition of atopy in children.
Bufe
Albrecht
A
Department of Experimental Pneumology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Gehlhar
Kirsten
K
Grage-Griebenow
Evelin
E
Ernst
Martin
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology
D003470:Culture Media; D016898:Interferon-alpha