Allergen-induced cytokine production, atopic disease, IgE, and wheeze in children

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2003-12, Vol.112 (6), p.1072-1077
• Main Authors: Contreras, J.Paola, Ly, Ngoc P., Gold, Diane R., He, Hongzhen, Wand, Mathew, Weiss, Scott T., Perkins, David L., Platts-Mills, Thomas A.E., Finn, Patricia W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Allergies; allergy; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - immunology; Antigens, Plant; Arthropod Proteins; atopy; Cats; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; cockroach; Cohort Studies; Cysteine Endopeptidases; cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Dermatitis; dust mite; Eczema; Eczema - immunology; Female; Glycoproteins - immunology; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology; IFN-γ; IL-13; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Infant; Male; Respiratory Sounds - immunology; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - immunology
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2003.08.036

The early childhood allergen-induced immune responses associated with atopic disease and IgE production in early life are not well understood. We assessed the relationship of allergen-induced cytokine production by PBMCs to both atopic disease and to IgE increase in a cohort of children with a parental history of allergy or asthma (n = 112) at a median of 2 years of age. We examined cockroach (Bla g 1)–induced, house dust mite (Der f 1)–induced, and cat (Fel d 1)–induced cytokine secretion, including secretion of IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-10, and TNF-α. We investigated whether distinct cytokine patterns associated with atopic disease can be detected in immune responses of children. PBMCs were isolated, and allergen-induced cytokine secretion was analyzed by means of ELISA. Atopic disease was defined as physician- or nurse-diagnosed eczema or hay fever. Increased IgE was defined as an IgE level of greater than 35 U/mL to dust mite, cockroach, cat, and egg white or a total IgE level of 60 U/mL or greater. Compared with children without atopic disease, children with atopic disease had lower Der f 1 ( P = .005) and Bla g 2 ( P = .03) allergen-induced IFN-γ levels. Compared with children without increased IgE (n = 95), those with increased IgE (n = 16) had higher Der f 1–induced ( P = .006) and Fel d 1–induced ( P = .005) IL-13 levels and lower Bla g 2–induced ( P = .03) IFN-γ levels. Compared with children with neither atopic disease nor repeated wheeze, children with both atopic disease and repeated wheeze had lower levels of allergen-induced IFN-γ ( P = .01 for Der f 1 and P = .02 for Bla g 2) cytokine secretion. In young children at risk for asthma or allergy, decreased allergen-induced IFN-γ secretion is associated with atopic disease and, in some cases, with increased IgE levels. Increased allergen-induced IL-13 secretion is most strongly associated with early life increase of IgE.