Production of interleukin-12 by monocytes and interferon-gamma by natural killer cells in allergic patients during rush immunotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Allergen specific immunotherapy modifies the immunologic response to allergen exposure; however, the role of cells composing the innate immune system, such as monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, in this mechanism is still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of rush immunotherapy (RIT) on early allergen-induced cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from treated cat- and birch-allergic patients.


METHODS
Twelve allergic patients received RIT, and another 4 served as controls. Blood samples were taken before the start and after 3 days, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 3 months of RIT. Allergen-induced production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) by monocytes and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by NK cells was evaluated by means of flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Before the start of RIT, allergic patients had significantly lower numbers of IL-12+ monocytes compared with healthy subjects (P = .01). The percentage of IL-12+ monocytes increased after 3 months of RIT (P = .003). In the allergic control group, the proportion of IL-12+ monocytes evaluated after 3 months was not different from baseline and was significantly lower compared with that in the RIT group (P = .005). Before treatment, the percentage of IFN-gamma+ NK cells was lower in allergic patients than in healthy subjects (P = .04). The percentage of IFN-gamma+ NK cells increased after 3 weeks (P = .03) and 3 months (P = .01) of RIT.


CONCLUSIONS
Restoration of the cytokine imbalance by immunotherapy is not only restricted to the cells of the adaptive immune system but also concerns cells composing the innate immune system.
Plewako
Halina
H
Asthma and Allergy Research Group, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Wosińska
Katarzyna
K
Arvidsson
Monica
M
Björkander
Janne
J
Håkansson
Lena
L
Rak
Sabina
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma