Open AccessIgE production in atopic patients is not related to IL‐4 production
Author(s) -
POUW KRAAN C. T. M.,
AALBERSE R. C.,
AARDEN L. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06077.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , immunology , atopic dermatitis , interleukin 4 , allergy , asthma , cytokine , atopy , medicine , stimulation , antibody
SUMMARY To analyse whether there is a general defect in T or B cell function in atopic individuals we have measured cytokine and IgE production by peripheral blood lymphocytes, isolated from 19 atopic donors (17 asthma/rhinitis and two dermatitis patients) in comparison with 19 non‐atopic controls. After stimulation of lymphocytes with anti‐CD2 and anti‐CD28, we found no significant difference in IL‐2, IL‐4 and interferon‐gamma (IEN‐γ) production. To examine the correlation between the production of IgE and IL‐4, we stimulated lymphocytes with anti‐CD2 and rIL‐2. Under this condition both T cell IL‐4 and B cell IgE production can be measured. No significant difference was found for the amount of IgE and IL‐4 produced between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The non‐atopic donors showed a good correlation between IL‐4 and IgE production ( r = 0.70). Surprisingly, within the atopic group there was no correlation between IgE and IL‐4 production at all ( r = M‐0.04). The ratio of IgE to IL‐4 was higher (although not significantly) in the atopic group. Our data suggest that in atopic donors IgE production is less dependent on IL‐4, and that other cytokines are involved.