In vitro kinetics of allergen- and microbe-induced IL-4 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in PBMC of pollen-allergic patients |
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Authors: | Laaksonen K Waris M Mäkelä M J Terho E O Savolainen J |
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Institution: | Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Clinical Allergology, University of Turku, Finland. |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND: According to a hypothesis allergens induce Th2 responses in allergic patients, and microbes induce Th1 responses. We studied the kinetics of in vitro allergen-, tuberculin (PPD)- and tetanus toxin (TT)-induced IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures of pollen-allergic patients and healthy controls. METHODS: PBMC of 10 birch or timothy pollen-allergic patients and of 13 healthy controls were stimulated in vitro with allergen (birch or timothy), PPD or TT. Pellets and supernatants were collected at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after stimulation. IFN-gamma and IL-4 production was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and mRNA expression using RT-PCR and time-resolved fluorometry. RESULTS: Allergen induced IFN-gamma production and mRNA expression in PBMC more in allergic patients than in healthy controls. Also allergen induced IL-4 mRNA expression more in allergic patients than in healthy controls. PPD induced IFN-gamma mRNA expression both in allergic patients and healthy controls, whereas IFN-gamma production was induced only in healthy controls and IL-4 was not induced at all. TT induced IFN-gamma mRNA expression in both groups, IFN-gamma production in allergic patients, and IL-4 mRNA expression in both allergic patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro stimulation with allergen induced both IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA expression of PBMC in allergic patients. These observations challenge the clearcut division of microbe-specific Th1 and allergen-specific Th2 responses in peripheral blood. |
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Keywords: | allergen kinetics tetanus toxin tuberculin IL‐4 IFN‐γ |
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