Premium
Analysis of epsilon germline transcripts and IL‐4 mRNA expression in the adenoids suggests local IgE switching
Author(s) -
Åström K.,
Papatziamos G.,
Magnusson C. G. M.,
Hemlin C.,
Scheynius A.,
Ploeg I. van der
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.00703.x
Subject(s) - atopy , immunoglobulin e , adenoidectomy , immunology , messenger rna , interleukin 4 , otitis , medicine , biology , allergy , immune system , gene , pathology , antibody , tonsillectomy , genetics
Background: We have previously observed more frequent occurrence of IgE + and FcεRI + cells in adenoids of atopic than nonatopic children. To investigate the hypothesis that the adenoids are involved in IgE production, we analyzed the levels of ε germline (εGL), IL‐4, and IFN‐γ transcripts in the adenoids in relation to atopy and presence of ear disease. Methods: Adenoidectomy was performed on 19 atopic and 18 nonatopic children (median age 5 years, range 2–12 years) suffering from otitis media with effusion (OME) ( n =16) or obstructive adenoids hyperplasia (AH) ( n =21). The levels of εGL transcripts, IL‐4, and IFN‐γ mRNA were analyzed by competitive reverse transcriptase‐PCR. Results: εGL transcript levels in the adenoids were found to be dependent on IL‐4 mRNA expression ( P <0.01) and serum IgE levels ( P <0.05) ( R 2 =0.32, n =37). IL‐4 mRNA expression was associated with εGL transcript levels ( r s =0.32, P =0.05, n =37), especially among patients with AH ( r s =0.53, P =0.01, n =21). No significant differences in IL‐4 and IFN‐γ mRNA levels were observed between the groups. Conclusions: This study supports an IL‐4‐induced class switch to IgE production in the adenoids that might be of importance for inflammatory reactions in the upper respiratory tract.