Interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma production in atopic and non-atopic children with asthma

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated increased production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and reduced production of interferon (IFN)-γ in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from children and adults with atopic dermatitis, however, it is unclear whether such an imbalance of cytokine production relates to other childhood atopic diseases such as asthma, and in particular to the presence of the atopic state per se. The production of IL-4 and IFNγ in phytohaemagglutin- (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures from atopic and non-atopic children with moderately severe chronic persistent asthma, and a group of age-matched non-atopic controls who did not have asthm..