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Allergen‐Specific increase in interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐5 secretion from peripheral blood mononuclear cells during birch‐pollen immunotherapy
Author(s) -
Movérare R.,
Rak S.,
Elfman L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03887.x
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , immunology , medicine , immunotherapy , secretion , allergen , peripheral blood , interleukin , interleukin 5 , allergy , interleukin 4 , interleukin 2 , cytokine , immune system , biology , endocrinology , in vitro , biochemistry
The mechanisms behind the effects of immunotherapy (IT) with birch‐pollen extract are largely unknown. In this pilot study, we measured the cytokine secretion in vitro from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from birch‐pollen‐allergic patients undergoing IT treatment ( n =4) or placebo administration (n=4), collected before treatment, 1 and 4 weeks after start of treatment, and during and just after the pollen season (12–14 weeks after start of treatment). The PBMC were stimulated with birch‐pollen extract in vitro for 7 days, followed by restimulation with the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) for 24 h, to enhance the production of cytokines. The supernatants were analyzed with ELISA and radioimmunoassay for interferon‐gamma (IFN‐y), interleukin (IL)‐4, and IL‐5. In the therapy group, we noted an increased secretion of IL‐4 and IL‐5 from PBMC collected at 4 weeks after the start of treatment (IL‐4: 29±21 pg/ml [day 0] to 3741448 pg/ml [week 4], mean± SD; IL‐5: 95+48 pg/ml to 11471697 pg/ml). No increase was seen in the placebo group. During the pollen season, we noted a trend toward increased IL‐4 and IL‐5 secretion in both groups. We conclude that the temporary increase in serum IgE observed in many IT studies may be a consequence of increased IL‐4 production due to the allergen exposure.