title: Association of PCBs and allergies in children.
abstract: Recently, the incidence rates of childhood allergies have been rising around the world. The presence of persistent chemical pollutants in the environment and exposure to air pollutants are often cited as potential causes of childhood allergies. Accordingly, epidemiological studies of the associations between exposure to low levels of pollutants and adverse health effects are essential. However, at present no useful biomarkers for evaluating such associations have been developed. Thus, using a molecular epidemiological approach we planned to identify candidate biomarkers of pollutant-induced adverse health effects that can be used in children. In asthmatic children, we found that the serum levels of several polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener sub-types were significantly positively correlated with interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA expression, whereas in a sub-group of children who displayed positive immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses to milk or egg proteins IL-22 mRNA expression was demonstrated to be useful for detecting the adverse health effects of environmental pollutants, particularly PCB congeners. In conclusion, the mRNA expression levels of IL-8 and IL-22 can be used to detect children who are at particular risk of adverse health events caused by environmental pollutants, especially PCBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan. Electronic address: tsuji@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: Chihaya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koriyama
authors.affiliation: Integrated Physiology Section, Department of Basic Medical Science, National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsumura
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D004527:Egg Proteins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008894:Milk Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Allergy; IL-22; IL-8; PCB; Young children