title: Antibody and cytokine responses to house dust mite allergens and Toxoplasma gondii antigens in atopic and non-atopic Brazilian subjects.
abstract: According to hygiene hypothesis, a lower exposure to infection is associated with increased prevalence of allergic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between atopy and Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) infection by analyzing the antibody and cytokine responses to house dust mite allergens and T. gondii antigens in Brazilian subjects. A total of 275 individuals were assessed and divided into atopics (n=129) and non-atopics (n=146) based on markers of allergy (positive skin prick test and ELISA-IgE to mite allergens) or Tg-seropositive (n=116) and Tg-seronegative (n=159) groups according to infection markers (positive ELISA-IgG to T. gondii). Tg-seropositive individuals presented lower allergenic sensitization (37%) to mite allergens than Tg-seronegative subjects (54%). A significant association was found between atopy and negative serology to T. gondii (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.23-3.26; P<0.05). Proliferative responses and cytokine production after antigenic stimulation showed predominant synthesis of Th1-cytokines as IFN-gamma in Tg-seropositive patients, whether atopics or non-atopics. Conversely, Th2-cytokines as IL-5 prevailed in atopics compared to non-atopics, regardless the seropositivity to T. gondii. Levels of IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, and TGF-beta were not able to discriminate the groups. Hence, a negative association between atopy and infection by T. gondii was demonstrated for the first time in Brazilian subjects, focusing on the antibody and cytokine responses and indicating that the immunomodulation induced by the parasite may play a protective role in the development of allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge F C
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Ernesto A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Taketomi
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.forename: Diego O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Rafael O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Leandro H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ynoue
authors.forename: Sun-Sang J
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Deise A O
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018793:Interleukin-13; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015848:Interleukin-5; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma