title: Close Positive Correlation between the Lymphocyte Response to Hen Egg White and House Dust Mites in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was recently hypothesized that food allergens sensitize infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) via the skin. If this is the case, an intimate positive correlation should be observed between immune responses to both food and indoor allergens.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven infants with AD and 32 controls were enrolled. The proliferation of lymphocytes stimulated with hen egg white (EW) or house dust mite (HDM) allergens was measured by means of an allergen-specific lymphocyte stimulation test (ALST). Cytokine production was measured in 13 patients and 4 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALST responses for EW (EW-ALST) were significantly higher in AD infants than in control subjects (stimulation index: 7.98 vs. 2.54, p < 0.0001). HDM-ALST responses were also significantly higher in AD infants than in controls (stimulation index: 5.09 vs. 1.44, p < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was seen between HDM-ALST and EW-ALST responses in AD infants aged 5-6 months (rs = 0.77, p < 0.000001). Serum levels of EW-specific IgE (EW-IgE) were significantly correlated with both EW-ALST (rs = 0.43, p < 0.05) and HDM-ALST levels (rs = 0.47, p < 0.05) in AD patients aged 3-4 months. Serum EW-IgE levels in AD infants were significantly correlated with the ratio of IL-4/IFN-γ production from lymphocytes stimulated with EW (rs = 0.62, p < 0.01) and with HDM (rs = 0.67, p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the close positive correlation between EW- and HDM-specific immune responses in infants with AD. These results may support the hypothesis that both food and indoor allergens concurrently sensitize infants via the skin.
authors: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Mitsuaki
authors: M
authors: Kimura
authors: Takaaki
authors: T
authors: Meguro
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Ito
authors: Fumika
authors: F
authors: Tokunaga
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Hashiguchi
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Seto
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004529:Egg White; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines; D004527:Egg Proteins