Cord blood allergen-specific IgE is associated with reduced IFN-gamma production by cord blood cells: the Protection against Allergy-Study in Rural Environments (PASTURE) Study.
BACKGROUND
It is currently discussed whether allergic sensitization may start in utero under the influence of the maternal immune system and environmental determinants.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between allergen-specific cord blood (CB) IgE levels, parental sensitization, CB cytokine production, and environmental influences.


METHODS
As part of an ongoing multicenter birth cohort study, allergen-specific IgE antibodies against 20 common seasonal, perennial, and food allergens were measured in blood samples from 922 neonates, 922 mothers, and 835 fathers. Supernatants from stimulated CB cells were assessed for the production of IL-5, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TNF-alpha.


RESULTS
Allergen-specific IgE antibodies were detectable in 23.9% of newborns. Contamination with maternal serum was excluded by several means of analyses, including the absence of IgA antibodies. Clear correlation between maternal and fetal IgE was found only for hen's egg, cow's milk, and soybean allergen. Fetal IgE correlated negatively with the level of IFN-gamma production, but not with IL-5 and IL-10.


CONCLUSIONS
Allergen-specific IgE antibodies most probably of fetal origin are detectable in CB and correlate with a lowered CB IFN-gamma production.
Pfefferle
Petra Ina
PI
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Sel
Serdar
S
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Ege
Markus Johannes
MJ
University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Büchele
Gisela
G
Institute of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Blümer
Nicole
N
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Krauss-Etschmann
Susanne
S
University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany; Heimholtz-Zentrum München-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Herzum
Ileana
I
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Albers
Christoph E
CE
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Lauener
Roger P
RP
Zurich University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Roponen
Marjut
M
Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland.
Hirvonen
Maija-Riitta
MR
Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland.
Vuitton
Dominique A
DA
Research Unit Health and Rural Environment, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
Riedler
Josef
J
Children's Hospital, Schwarzach, Austria.
Brunekreef
Bert
B
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dalphin
Jean-Charles
JC
Department of Respiratory Disease, University Hospital, Besançon, France.
Braun-Fahrländer
Charlotte
C
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Pekkanen
Juha
J
Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland; School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
von Mutius
Erika
E
University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Renz
Harald
H
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: renzh@med.uni-marburg.de.
Protection against Allergy-Study in Rural Environments Study Group: Gertraud Weiß, Ellen Üblagger, Claudia Humer, Manuela Rußegger (Austria); Raija Juntunen, Reetta Tiihonen, Pekka Tiittanen, Anne Hyvärinen, Timo Kauppila, Aino Nevalainen, Sami Remes (Finland); Marie-Laure Dalphin, Renaud Piarroux, Gabriel Reboux, Sandrine Roussel, Bertrand Sudre (France); Susanne Schmid, Sabina Illi, Nicola Korherr, (Germany); Sondhja Bitter, Felix H. Sennhauser, Susanne Loeliger, Johanna Steinle, and Remo Frei (Switzerland).
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population
D000485:Allergens; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma