Allergen-induced cytokine production, atopic disease, IgE, and wheeze in children.
BACKGROUND
The early childhood allergen-induced immune responses associated with atopic disease and IgE production in early life are not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
We assessed the relationship of allergen-induced cytokine production by PBMCs to both atopic disease and to IgE increase in a cohort of children with a parental history of allergy or asthma (n = 112) at a median of 2 years of age. We examined cockroach (Bla g 1)-induced, house dust mite (Der f 1)-induced, and cat (Fel d 1)-induced cytokine secretion, including secretion of IFN-gamma, IL-13, IL-10, and TNF-alpha. We investigated whether distinct cytokine patterns associated with atopic disease can be detected in immune responses of children.


METHODS
PBMCs were isolated, and allergen-induced cytokine secretion was analyzed by means of ELISA. Atopic disease was defined as physician- or nurse-diagnosed eczema or hay fever. Increased IgE was defined as an IgE level of greater than 35 U/mL to dust mite, cockroach, cat, and egg white or a total IgE level of 60 U/mL or greater.


RESULTS
Compared with children without atopic disease, children with atopic disease had lower Der f 1 (P =.005) and Bla g 2 (P =.03) allergen-induced IFN-gamma levels. Compared with children without increased IgE (n = 95), those with increased IgE (n = 16) had higher Der f 1-induced (P =.006) and Fel d 1-induced (P =.005) IL-13 levels and lower Bla g 2-induced (P =.03) IFN-gamma levels. Compared with children with neither atopic disease nor repeated wheeze, children with both atopic disease and repeated wheeze had lower levels of allergen-induced IFN-gamma (P =.01 for Der f 1 and P =.02 for Bla g 2) cytokine secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
In young children at risk for asthma or allergy, decreased allergen-induced IFN-gamma secretion is associated with atopic disease and, in some cases, with increased IgE levels. Increased allergen-induced IL-13 secretion is most strongly associated with early life increase of IgE.
Contreras
J Paola
JP
Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Ly
Ngoc P
NP
Gold
Diane R
DR
He
Hongzhen
H
Wand
Mathew
M
Weiss
Scott T
ST
Perkins
David L
DL
Platts-Mills
Thomas A E
TA
Finn
Patricia W
PW
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D002415:Cats; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; C105482:allergen Bla g 1; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus