Patterns of food allergen-specific cytokine production by T lymphocytes of children with multiple allergies.
BACKGROUND
The contribution of different T cell subsets to the overall measured cytokine response to food allergens is largely unexplored.


METHODS
The patterns of cytokine production of peripheral blood-derived T cells after allergen stimulation were studied in 22 children with multiple food allergies and in 20 non-allergic children as controls, using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Proportions of T cells of food-sensitized children spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma and IL-10 (without antigen stimulation) were lower than non-atopic children and adult controls (P<or=0.001). The proportions of IL-4-producing cells in vitro were significantly increased (P<or=0.04) and IFN-gamma-producing cells were significantly reduced (P<or=0.05) in sensitized children after incubation with and without dendritic cell presentation of peanut extract, beta-lactoglobulin and ovalbumin. The reverse pattern was found in non-sensitized children and adult controls. IL-4 secretion in allergic children to sensitizing allergens was mainly restricted to the CD4(+) CD45 RO(+) population while in non-atopic controls both CD4(+) and CD8(+) CD45 RO(+) cells produced mostly IFN-gamma. Food-specific IgE values did not correspond with cytokine responses but IL-4 production and IFN-gamma reduction relative to normal children were closely associated with total IgE levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Food-allergic children's IL-4 cytokine response to their relevant allergens is predominantly from a memory population of CD4(+) CD45 RO(+) cells, whereas IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion of non-allergic controls was predominantly from mixed CD4(+) and CD8(+) CD45 RO(+) populations.
Scott-Taylor
T H
TH
Division of Immunobiology, Institute of Child Health, London, UK. t.scott-taylor@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
Hourihane
J B
JB
Harper
J
J
Strobel
S
S
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens