Developmental cytokine response profiles and the clinical and immunologic expression of atopy during the first year of life.
BACKGROUND
Allergic diseases have been linked to abnormal patterns of immune development, and this has stimulated efforts to define the precise patterns of cytokine dysregulation that are associated with specific atopic phenotypes.


OBJECTIVE
Cytokine-response profiles were prospectively analyzed over the first year of life and compared with the clinical and immunologic expressions of atopy.


METHODS
Umbilical cord and 1-year PBMCs were obtained from 285 subjects from allergic families. PHA-stimulated cytokine-response profiles (IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-gamma) were compared with blood eosinophil counts and total and specific IgE levels (dust mites, cat, egg, Alternaria species, peanut, milk, and dog) at age 1 year and at the development of atopic dermatitis and food allergy.


RESULTS
For the cohort as a whole, cytokine responses did not evolve according to a strict TH1 or TH2 polarization pattern. PHA-stimulated cord blood cells secreted low levels of IL-5 (2.1 pg/mL), moderate levels of IFN-gamma (57.4 pg/mL), and greater amounts of IL-13 (281.8 pg/mL). From birth to 1 year, IL-5 responses dramatically increased, whereas IL-13 and IFN-gamma responses significantly decreased. Reduced cord blood secretion of IL-10 and IFN-gamma was associated with subsequent sensitization to egg. In addition, there was evidence of TH2 polarization (increased IL-5 and IL-13 levels) associated with blood eosinophilia and increased total IgE levels by age 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that cytokine responses change markedly during the first year of life and provide further evidence of a close relationship between TH2 skewing of immune responses and the incidence of atopic manifestations in children.
Neaville
William A
WA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Tisler
Christopher
C
Bhattacharya
Abhik
A
Anklam
Kelly
K
Gilbertson-White
Stephanie
S
Hamilton
Rebekah
R
Adler
Kiva
K
Dasilva
Douglas F
DF
Roberg
Kathy A
KA
Carlson-Dakes
Kirstin T
KT
Anderson
Elizabeth
E
Yoshihara
Debbie
D
Gangnon
Ronald
R
Mikus
Lance D
LD
Rosenthal
Louis A
LA
Gern
James E
JE
Lemanske
Robert F
RF
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines