Association between environmental tobacco smoke and diminished dendritic cell interleukin 10 production during infancy.
BACKGROUND
Diminished interleukin 10 (IL-10) production has been documented in children and adults with asthma and atopy. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is recognized as a risk factor for the development of childhood asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an association between ETS and dendric cell (DC) IL-10 production during infancy.


METHODS
ETS was evaluated by questionnaire, and blood samples were obtained at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months of age in 37 healthy infants. DCs were cultured and stimulated, and supernatants were assayed for IL-10 by enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
Sixteen infants had no history of exposure to ETS, and 21 infants had a history of ETS exposure. The frequency of subjects with detectable IL-10 levels was similar in both groups at 2 weeks and 3 months but significantly different at 5 months (P < .001). In those without ETS exposure, the frequency with detectable IL-10 levels increased during the observation period (25% at 2 weeks, 20% at 3 months, and 36% at 5 months; P = .03 vs 2 weeks). In contrast, in those with ETS exposure, the frequency with detectable IL-10 levels decreased during the observation period (33% at 2 weeks, 19% at 3 months; P = .02 vs 2 weeks; and 7% at 5 months; P < .001 vs 2 weeks).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results demonstrate an association between ETS and diminished DC IL-10 production during infancy. Future studies need to expand on these sample sizes and explore whether diminished DC IL-10 production is the mechanism by which ETS predisposes patients to the development of asthma and/or atopy.
Gentile
Deborah
D
Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. dgentile@wpahs.org
Howe-Adams
Judith
J
Trecki
Jordan
J
Patel
Asha
A
Angelini
Betty
B
Skoner
David
D
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D016753:Interleukin-10