title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Petra Ina
authors: PI
authors: Pfefferle
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Sel
authors: University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany.
authors: Markus Johannes
authors: MJ
authors: Ege
authors: Institute of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors: Gisela
authors: G
authors: Büchele
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Blümer
authors: University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany; Heimholtz-Zentrum München-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Krauss-Etschmann
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Herzum
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors: Christoph E
authors: CE
authors: Albers
authors: Zurich University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Roger P
authors: RP
authors: Lauener
authors: Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Marjut
authors: M
authors: Roponen
authors: Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Maija-Riitta
authors: MR
authors: Hirvonen
authors: Research Unit Health and Rural Environment, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
authors: Dominique A
authors: DA
authors: Vuitton
authors: Children's Hospital, Schwarzach, Austria.
authors: Josef
authors: J
authors: Riedler
authors: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Bert
authors: B
authors: Brunekreef
authors: Department of Respiratory Disease, University Hospital, Besançon, France.
authors: Jean-Charles
authors: JC
authors: Dalphin
authors: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Braun-Fahrländer
authors: Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland; School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Juha
authors: J
authors: Pekkanen
authors: University Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: von Mutius
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: renzh@med.uni-marburg.de.
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Renz
authors: 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).
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma