title: Diminished dendritic cell interleukin 10 production in atopic children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, USA. dgentile@wpahs.org
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howe-Adams
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trecki
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Skoner
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12