Ovalbumin-induced IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma production in infants with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Although hen's eggs are considered a cause of infantile atopic dermatitis (AD), little is known about cytokine production upon egg stimulation in infants with AD.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to characterize the production of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma upon stimulation with ovalbumin (OVA), a representative allergenic protein of egg, in infants with AD.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 68 children with AD, including 46 infants (<1 year), were stimulated with OVA and the production of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma was measured with ELISA kits.


RESULTS
Upon stimulation with OVA, the production of IL-4 and IL-5, but not IFN-gamma, by PBMCs was significantly higher in infants with AD than in non-atopic controls. OVA-induced IL-5 production peaked in younger infants (2-5 months) and then decreased with age increase. In contrast, OVA-induced IL-4 production peaked at the age of 1-2. This coincided with the serum level of egg white-specific IgE (EW-IgE). There was a significant positive correlation between IL-5 production and the severity of symptoms in infants with AD, while IL-4 production significantly correlated with the serum level of EW-IgE.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that OVA-induced IL-5 production fluctuates with age in a different manner than IL-4 or EW-IgE. Our results suggest that egg contributes to the development of AD in younger infants by inducing the production of IL-5, but not IL-4.
Kimura
Mitsuaki
M
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. kimurami@sch.pref.shizuoka.jp
Obi
Makiko
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*
D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin