title: Allergen rush immunotherapy increases interleukin (IL)-12 production and IL-12 receptor beta2 chain expression in patients with allergic asthma.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-12 production and IL-12 receptor (IL-12R) beta2 chain expression were investigated in patients with allergic asthma successfully treated with rush immunotherapy (RIT) and control patients with mild allergic asthma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), and production of cytokines was measured. Furthermore, the effects of cytokines on IL-12R beta2 chain expression on CD4(+) T cells were investigated. Production by PBMCs of IL-12 and IFN-gamma was significantly higher and production of IL-4 was significantly lower after stimulation with Der f allergen in RIT-treated patients than in control patients. Significant increases in the expression of IL-12R beta2 chain before and after stimulation of CD4(+) T cells with IL-12 or IFN-gamma were observed in RIT-treated patients compared with that in control patients. Allergen RIT increases IL-12 production and IL-12R beta2 chain expression and thus may convert cytokine production from Th2 to Th1 or Th0 type in allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University, School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tazaki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minoguchi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoe
authors.forename: Naruhito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12
chemical_list: C508439:IL12RB2 protein, human; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma