title: Ascaris lumbricoides-induced interleukin-10 is not associated with atopy in schoolchildren in a rural area of the tropics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In areas where intestinal helminth infections are endemic, infections by these parasites may protect against skin test-measured reactivity to allergens, and it has been suggested that interleukin (IL)-10 may mediate this effect. This study investigated whether IL-10 and populations of IL-10+ T cells may modulate atopy in children living in an area where intestinal helminth infections are endemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ecuadorian schoolchildren from rural communities were assessed for skin test-measured reactivity to Periplaneta americana allergen and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen. Blood samples were collected from 39 skin test-positive and 41 skin test-negative children, and peripheral-blood leukocytes were cultured in the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides antigen, to measure IL-10 protein and the frequency of T cell populations expressing intracellular IL-10. We also investigated whether these immunological factors affected the association between allergen-specific IgE and skin test-measured reactivity to aeroallergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no evidence of association between the level of A. lumbricoides-induced IL-10 protein or IL-10+ T cells and skin test-measured reactivity to allergens. The association between allergen-specific IgE and skin test-measured reactivity was not affected by the level of IL-10 protein or the frequency of IL-10+ T cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study do not support the notion that IL-10 plays a role in modulating atopy in children living in a tropical area where intestinal helminth infections are endemic.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones, Hospital Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Pichincha Province, Quito, Ecuador. pcooper@ecnet.ec
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mitre
authors.forename: Ana Lucia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Moncayo
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Chico
authors.forename: Maritza G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vaca
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Nutman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000276:immunology*; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D016753:Interleukin-10