title: The LINA cohort: indoor chemical exposure, circulating eosinophil/basophil (Eo/B) progenitors and early life skin manifestations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hematopoietic progenitor cells, especially those committed to the Eo/B lineage, are known to contribute to allergic inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether environmental factors are associated with changes in numbers of circulating Eo/B progenitors at 1 year of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood from 60 1-year-old children enrolled in the LINA (Lifestyle and environmental factors and their Influence on Newborns Allergy risk) birth cohort was assessed for Eo/B progenitor cells (Eo/B CFU) using standardized and validated methylcellulose assays. Frozen peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured in the presence of IL-3, IL-5 or GM-CSF, and Eo/B CFUs enumerated. Clinical outcomes and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were documented by standardized questionnaires, and indoor volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were assessed by passive sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with skin manifestations (atopic dermatitis or cradle cap) within the first year of life had higher numbers of circulating IL-3-, IL-5- or GM-CSF-stimulated Eo/B CFUs (P < 0.05) at 1 year. In children with cradle cap, a positive correlation was found between Eo/B CFUs and exposure to ETS-related VOCs during pregnancy or at 1 year of age (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration that environmental exposures are positively associated with levels of circulating Eo/B progenitors. The recruitment and differentiation of Eo/B progenitors in response to environmental triggers may play a role in the development of skin manifestations during the first year of life.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weisse
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heroux
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohajda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herberth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Röder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Bergen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borte
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds