Low levels of immunoglobulin A in children with intrinsic asthma: a possible protection against atopy.
Immunoglobulin A and G (IgA, IgG) serum concentrations were detected in children with nonallergic/intrinsic (36 children) or allergic/extrinsic asthma (43 children) and in age-matching control children (40 children). Asthmatic children with allergic asthma had lower IgA (1.36+/-0.54 g/L) and higher IgG (10.48+/-2.77 g/L) levels than the age-matching control children group (1.63+/-0.69 vs. 9.01+/-2.32 g/L). Children with nonallergic/intrinsic asthma had lower IgA (1.03+/-0.41 g/L) ( p = 0.004) and IgG (8.38+/-1.93 g/L) (p = 0.001) levels than the allergic/extrinsic asthma group (1.36+/-0.54 vs. 10.48+/-2.77 g/L). Low IgA levels were found in children with nonallergic/intrinsic asthma and high IgG levels were found in those children with allergic/extrinsic childhood asthma. The hypothesis is that the increased incidence of asthma in the population may be caused by a decrease in childhood infections (hygiene hypothesis). Frequent infections in early life boost the immune system, stimulating Th1-type response in young children and reducing the risk of atopic diseases. Our hypothesis is that low IgA (and/or IgG) levels in our patients might be responsible for infection development among those children with nonallergic/intrinsic asthma. These infections stimulate the normal development of immune system in young children, reducing risk of atopy, so that those children do not get allergic/extrinsic childhood asthma. Intrinsic childhood asthma=nonallergic (nonatopic) childhood asthma. Extrinsic childhood asthma=allergic (atopic) childhood asthma.
Mandić
Zlatko
Z
Department of Pediatrics, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek University School of Medicine, Huttlerova 4, Osijek 31000, Croatia. mandic.zlatko@kbo.hr
Marusić
Matko
M
Boranić
Milivoj
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G