title: Allergen-induced cytokine secretion in atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children.
abstract: Atopic asthma is characterized by excessive T helper 2 (Th2)-like immunity to allergens in the bronchial mucosa. The Th2-cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 induces IgE production, while the Th2-cytokine IL-5 promotes eosinophilic inflammation in the airways of asthmatics. Most asthmatics are atopic, but a subgroup is non-atopic. We hypothesize that allergen-induced Th2, particularly IL-5, responses can be observed in peripheral blood in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children but not in healthy control children. The aim of the present study was to determine IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-gamma secretion induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by a broad panel of inhalant allergens (timothy, cat, birch, dog and house dust mite) in asthmatic children with and without sensitization. The study included 13 atopic asthmatic, 5 non-atopic asthmatic, and 12 non-atopic non-asthmatic children. PBMC were stimulated with allergens and cytokine production was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Higher levels of cat and dog antigen-induced IL-5 release were more commonly observed in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatics than in controls. Children with atopic, but not non-atopic, asthma produced higher levels of allergen-induced IL-4 and IL-9 than controls. Non-atopic asthmatics produced more IL-10 than atopic asthmatics after cat stimulation. High levels of eosinophilia-associated IL-5 responses are induced by cat and dog allergen in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children. The Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-9 were associated only with atopic asthma, probably due to their IgE-inducing properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Division of Paediatrics, and Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. MalFa@imk.liu.se
authors.forename: Malin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bjurström
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jenmalm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism; D029662:Betula / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002415:Cats; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000378:metabolism*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D039981:Pyroglyphidae
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016906:Interleukin-9; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma