Abstract | BACKGROUND: Intestinal flora and innate immunity, and their interactions impact adaptive immunity. OBJECTIVE: To study the association of fecal defensin levels in infancy with synbiotic treatment and with the emergence of atopy. METHODS: The randomly selected group of 102 infants belonged to a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial where 1223 infants in high risk for allergy received, from birth to 6 months, a mixture of synbiotics, or placebo. Clinical trials registration number for the clinical trial is NCT00298337. In the subgroup, 45 received active treatment and 56 received placebo treatment. Follow-up for the emergence of sensitization and allergic diseases lasted 5 years. At the age of 3 (n = 96) and 6 (n = 87) months, we measured fecal levels of human neutrophil peptide (HNP) 1-3 and of β- defensin 2 (HBD2) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays and concentrations of lactic acid bacteria on MRS agar. We used multifactorial regression in data analysis. RESULTS: Fecal levels of HNP1-3 and HBD2 decreased from the age of 3-6 months (P < 0.0001). HBD2 levels decreased less in the synbiotics group compared with placebo (P < 0.02). High fecal HBD2 levels at 6 months were associated with an increased risk for sensitization by the age of 5 years (OR 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.8, P < 0.03). High fecal HNP1-3 levels at 6 months were associated with a decreased risk for atopic dermatitis (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.1-1.0, P < 0.05). Samples with very low or high HBD2 levels at 6 months had low concentrations of lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early innate immunity responses in the gut are associated with the emergence of sensitization and atopic dermatitis later in childhood.
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Authors | E M Savilahti, A K Kukkonen, T Haahtela, T Tuure, M Kuitunen, E Savilahti |
Journal | Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
(Clin Exp Allergy)
Vol. 42
Issue 3
Pg. 405-11
(Mar 2012)
ISSN: 1365-2222 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22093109
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
Chemical References |
- DEFB4A protein, human
- Defensins
- beta-Defensins
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Topics |
- Child, Preschool
- Defensins
(analysis, immunology, metabolism)
- Dermatitis, Atopic
(immunology, prevention & control)
- Double-Blind Method
- Feces
(chemistry)
- Female
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity, Immediate
(immunology, prevention & control)
- Infant
- Intestinal Mucosa
(immunology, metabolism)
- Pregnancy
- Synbiotics
- beta-Defensins
(immunology, metabolism)
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