T cell responses to major peanut allergens in children with and without peanut allergy.
BACKGROUND
T cell responses involved in peanut allergy are poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate T cell responses towards major peanut allergens in peanut-allergic (PA) subjects compared with peanut-sensitized (PS) non-allergic children and non-atopic (NA) controls.


METHODS
Eighteen PA children, seven non-allergic PS children and 11 NA adults were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with a crude peanut extract (CPE). Short-term T cell lines were generated and subsequently stimulated with CPE and purified Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6. The proliferation and production of IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were analysed.


RESULTS
Proliferation to CPE and major allergens was enhanced in PA subjects. The primary response to CPE was comparable with PS subjects, with increased production of IL-13 and IFN-gamma compared with NA. Production of IL-10 was not observed. In short-term T cell lines, the response to CPE was stronger in PA than in PS and NA subjects. Only PA children had a detectable response to major peanut allergens, characterized by IL-13 production. The response was the highest after Ara h 3 stimulation, and the lowest after Ara h 2 stimulation. No significant correlation was observed between peanut-specific IgE levels and T cell responses to CPE.


CONCLUSIONS
T cell responses to CPE in PA and PS children were characterized by Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Only PA children showed enhanced Th2 responses to Ara h 1, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6.
Flinterman
A E
AE
Departments of Dermatology/Allergology, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Pasmans
S G M A
SG
den Hartog Jager
C F
CF
Hoekstra
M O
MO
Bruijnzeel-Koomen
C A F M
CA
Knol
E F
EF
van Hoffen
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology*; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D016207:Cytokines