Increased production of IFN-γ and cysteinyl leukotrienes in virus-induced wheezing

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 1999-04, Vol.103 (4), p.630-636
• Main Authors: van Schaik, Sandrijn M., Tristram, Debra A., Nagpal, Inderjeet S., Hintz, Karen M., Welliver, R.Charles, Welliver, Robert C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: asthma; Asthma - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchiolitis; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; cysteinyl leukotrienes; Female; g-Interferon; Humans; IFN-γ; Infant; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; leukotrienes; Leukotrienes - biosynthesis; Male; Medical sciences; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; Pneumology; Respiratory Sounds - immunology; respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - immunology; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human - immunology; Respiratory System - immunology; Respiratory System - metabolism; Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology; virus-induced wheezing; wheezing
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/S0091-6749(99)70235-6

Background: An imbalance of production of T-helper lymphocyte cytokines, favoring overproduction of IL-4, is believed to be important in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. However, less is known about the cytokine response in virus-induced wheezing, which is a major cause of morbidity in asthma. Objective: We undertook this study to determine the magnitude of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10, and leukotriene (LT) responses in infants and children with virus-induced wheezing. Methods: We measured the concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10, and cysteinyl LTs in respiratory secretions of 82 infants and young children during acute episodes of virus-induced wheezing. Control subjects were 47 infants and children with uncomplicated upper respiratory infections and 18 normal healthy infants. Results: Ratios of IFN-γ to IL-4 were higher (due to increased quantities of IFN-γ) in subjects with wheezing than in those with upper respiratory infection alone ( P = .003). Quantities of LTs were also increased in wheezing subjects in comparison with those with upper respiratory infections ( P = .009). There was a significant correlation between measured concentrations of IFN-γ and LTs (correlation coefficient = .451, P = .007). Quantities of IL-4 were slightly suppressed in the wheezing groups. Conclusions: An imbalance favoring overproduction of IFN-γ appears to be associated temporarily with virus-induced wheezing. A possible mechanism is the enhanced release of LTs from eosinophils or mast cells after sensitization by IFN-γ. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:630-6.)