Total IL-12 levels are increased in paediatric atopic dermatitis: correlations with age and disease severity.
Alterations in the immune response play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated the role of Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in paediatric AD and its progression towards other allergic manifestations. The levels of total interleukin (IL)-12 (p70+p40), IL-12 p70 and soluble CD30 (sCD30) were measured in paediatric patients affected by AD and in age-matched, non-atopic subjects (controls). The serum levels of total IL-12 and sCD30 were higher in patients than in controls (p=0.003 and p=0.053, respectively). Total IL-12 and sCD30 were also particularly increased in patients with severe disease. Serum levels of total IL-12 were negatively correlated with patient age (p=0.001): they were significantly higher in patients younger than 30 months, as compared to age-matched controls and to older patients and controls. Total IL-12 and sCD30 production were not significantly correlated with disease outcomes (atopic march) or with a family history of atopy. Our data show that total IL-12 levels are strongly associated with Th2 activation and severe disease in children with AD. The increased production of total IL-12 at an early age might indicate a different immune modulation and suggests the possibility of new therapeutic approaches for allergic diseases, in particular AD, early in childhood.
C.N.R. Institute for Organ Transplantation and Immunocytology, Piazzale Collemaggio, L'Aquila, Italy. daniela.piancatelli@cnr.it
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D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D012882:Skin Tests; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007073:Immunoglobulin E