Diminished dendritic cell interleukin 10 production in atopic children.
BACKGROUND
Diminished interleukin 10 (IL-10) and/or IL-12 production may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and atopy. Dendritic cells (DCs) produce these cytokines and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of these disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether DC IL-10 and/or IL-12 production is diminished in children aged 6 to 12 years with allergic rhinitis (AR) and with or without asthma.


METHODS
Monocyte-derived DCs were isolated from 20 subjects without AR or asthma (group 1), 20 subjects with AR without asthma (group 2), and 20 subjects with AR and asthma (group 3). Asthma was defined as a history of physician-diagnosed disease, and AR was defined as a positive history and positive puncture skin test responses (wheal > or = 5 mm) to relevant inhalant allergens. DCs were stimulated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or diluent and cultured for 24 hours. Supernatants were assayed for IL-10 and IL-12 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
DC IL-10 production was diminished in groups 2 and 3 compared with group 1. Median LPS-induced IL-10 levels were 11.0 pg/mL in group 1, 6.1 pg/mL in group 2, and 1.5 pg/mL in group 3. The frequencies of subjects with detectable IL-10 levels were 85%, 20%, and 20% in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Median LPS-induced IL-12 levels were similar in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the hypothesis that atopic subjects have an intrinsic inability to up-regulate DC IL-10 production. Future studies in this area could lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of atopy.
Gentile
Deborah A
DA
Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. dgentile@wpahs.org
Schreiber
Rachel
R
Howe-Adams
Judith
J
Trecki
Jordan
J
Patel
Asha
A
Angelini
Betty
B
Skoner
David P
DP
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12