Differential Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients suffering from flea bite-induced papular urticaria.
BACKGROUND
The Th1/Th2 balance has not been characterized in patients suffering from flea bite-induced papular urticaria (FBPU). Our aim was to improve understanding of the immunopathogenesis of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in humans suffering from flea bite-induced papular urticaria.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 18 pediatric patients and 10 age-matched healthy controls. Cellular phenotypes, intracellular production of interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in T-cells stimulated with polyclonal stimuli was determined by flow cytometry following short-term in vitro stimulation.


RESULTS
The results revealed lower frequencies of IFNgamma-secreting (p = 0.02) and higher frequencies of IL-4-secreting (p = 0.03) CD4+ T-cells in patient lymphocyte cultures compared to healthy control cultures in the presence of polyclonal stimuli. This is the first description of differential cytokine patterns in papular urticaria patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients suffering from papular urticaria have an atopic status compared to healthy children.
Cuéllar
A
A
Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá. Colombia.
Rodríguez
A
A
Rojas
F
F
Halpert
E
E
Gómez
A
A
García
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015847:Interleukin-4; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal