title: Imbalance of serum IL-10 and TGF-β in patients with pollen food syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pollen food syndrome is one of the main causes of food allergies in adults. However, the intrinsic immunological mechanisms remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty pollinosis sufferers [23 with a food allergy (PSFA) and 17 without a food allergy (PS)] and 17 non-atopic healthy controls were included in this study. The PSFA group was subdivided into an oral allergy syndrome group, a systemic reaction group, and an anaphylactic reaction group according to their symptoms after eating the suspected foods. Serum IL-10 and TGF-β levels of all participants were determined by ELISA. Clinical characteristics of the patients were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in age, sex, pollen-associated symptoms, duration of respiratory disease, and positive parental history of atopy between the PSFA and PS groups. Compared to healthy controls, serum IL-10 levels of both the PSFA group and PS group were significantly lower (p≤0.01), but TGF β levels were significantly higher in the PSFA group (35.3±5.6ng/ml vs. 31.2±6.6ng/ml, respectively; p=0.037). Within the PSFA group, IL-10 levels in the anaphylactic reaction subgroup were significantly lower compared to oral allergy syndrome subgroup (1.87±0.47pg/ml vs. 1.40±0.30pg/ml, respectively; p=0.027). More severe food allergy symptoms were associated with lower serum IL-10 levels. In contrast, the highest serum levels of TGF-β were found in patients from the anaphylactic reaction subgroup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the exception of a defect in regulatory cells represented by the reduction of IL-10, other potential immunological mechanisms (e.g., Th17 or IL-23 together with TGF-β) may be involved in the development of pollen food syndrome.
authors: Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China. Electronic address: doctoryinjia@163.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Yin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Food allergy; IL-10; Pollen food syndrome; Pollinosis; TGF-β