Atopic asthma is characterized by excessive T helper 2 (Th2)-like immunity to allergens in the bronchial mucosa. The Th2-cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 induces IgE production, while the Th2-cytokine IL-5 promotes eosinophilic inflammation in the airways of asthmatics. Most asthmatics are atopic, but a subgroup is non-atopic. We hypothesize that allergen-induced Th2, particularly IL-5, responses can be observed in peripheral blood in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children but not in healthy control children. The aim of the present study was to determine IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-γ secretion induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by a broad panel of inhalant allergens (timothy, cat, birch, dog and house dust mite) in asthmatic children with and without sensitization. The study included 13 atopic asthmatic, 5 non-atopic asthmatic, and 12 non-atopic non-asthmatic children. PBMC were stimulated with allergens and cytokine production was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Higher levels of cat and dog antigen-induced IL-5 release were more commonly observed in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatics than in controls. Children with atopic, but not non-atopic, asthma produced higher levels of allergen-induced IL-4 and IL-9 than controls. Non-atopic asthmatics produced more IL-10 than atopic asthmatics after cat stimulation. High levels of eosinophilia-associated IL-5 responses are induced by cat and dog allergen in both atopic and non-atopic asthmatic children. The Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-9 were associated only with atopic asthma, probably due to their IgE-inducing properties.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:liu-26399 |
Date | January 2003 |
Creators | Böttcher, Malin, Bjurström, Jenny, Mai, Xiaomei, Nilsson, Lennart, Jenmalm, Maria |
Publisher | Linköpings universitet, Pediatrik, Linköpings universitet, Hälsouniversitetet, Linköpings universitet, Pediatrik, Linköpings universitet, Hälsouniversitetet, Linköpings universitet, Pediatrik, Linköpings universitet, Hälsouniversitetet, Linköpings universitet, Pediatrik, Östergötlands Läns Landsting, Barn, Linköpings universitet, Hälsouniversitetet, Linköpings universitet, Pediatrik, Linköpings universitet, Hälsouniversitetet |
Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Article in journal, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, text |
Format | application/pdf |
Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
Relation | Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 0905-6157, 2003, 14:5, s. 345-350 |
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