title: Low cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios: a marker of increased risk for allergy development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data from birth cohort studies suggest that increased cord blood total IgE and reduced cord blood regulatory T cells increase the risk of developing allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We here addressed whether serum total IgE and hen's egg-specific IgE levels at birth and at age 1 year differed between healthy and allergic children in a Belgian birth cohort (FONIA). We furthermore studied whether these parameters as well as cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA levels might predict the allergic outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children (n = 84) were clinically assessed at the ages of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and at 6 years. Cord blood total IgE levels above 0.35 kU/L predicted early (i.e. before or at the age of 2 years) allergy development. Presence of serum IgE antibodies to hen's egg (cut-off 0.05 Ua/mL) at the age of 1 year was associated with early as well as late (i.e. between the age of 2 and 6 years) allergy development. Cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios were significantly lower in early allergic children and levels below 0.32 predicted the allergic outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios are highly predictive for early allergy development, whereas specific IgE levels to hen's egg white above 0.05 Ua/mL at age 1 year predict allergy development in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Clinical Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: D M A
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bullens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seys
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dilissen
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ceuppens
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; C452842:CD3 antigen, gamma chain; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: IgE; allergy risk; cord blood; regulatory T cells; sensitivity