Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: We analyzed IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma in 60 chronic urticaria sera versus 51 controls. Sera were incubated with purified human basophils and cutaneous mast cells and the release of histamine, IL-4 and leukotrienes (C(4), D(4), E(4)) was quantitated. Immunoblotting was performed to identify IgG antibody to FcepsilonRIalpha, alpha subunit. We measured intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 17 chronic urticaria patients compared to 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: We found higher IL-4 levels (p = 0.028) in the sera of chronic urticaria patients (1.03 pg/ml) versus healthy donors (0.20 pg/ml) but no difference between urticaria sera and atopic control sera (0.52 pg/ml). We did not detect IFN-gamma or IL-5 in any serum. However, sera that activated basophils so that they released histamine also produced leukotriene and IL-4, and leukotriene production by cutaneous mast cells and basophils was closely correlated. However, there was no correlation between immunoblotting and the functional ability to induce either histamine or IL-4. After stimulating with PMA- ionomycin we found significant differences in CD4+ lymphocyte production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma with no differences in CD8+ lymphocyte production of either cytokine. CONCLUSION: Our data support the presence of basophil and mast cell activators in the sera of patients with chronic urticaria which can lead to the production of leukotrienes and IL-4 in addition to the histamine. IL-4 levels are similar to those seen in atopic subjects. We found that CD4+ T cells from patients with chronic urticaria are activated and tend to produce higher cytokine levels than CD4+ T cells from healthy controls. There were no differences when cytokine production by CD8+ lymphocytes was similarly assessed. These results are consistent with the histology found in biopsies of chronic urticaria lesions, where a CD4+-predominant infiltrate is found with cytokine production suggesting either a Th0 response or a mixture of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes.
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Authors | Marta Ferrer, Esther Luquin, Alfonso Sanchez-Ibarrola, Cristina Moreno, Maria L Sanz, Allen P Kaplan |
Journal | International archives of allergy and immunology
(Int Arch Allergy Immunol)
Vol. 129
Issue 3
Pg. 254-60
(Nov 2002)
ISSN: 1018-2438 [Print] Switzerland |
PMID | 12444324
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel |
Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
- Cytokines
- Leukotrienes
- anti-IgE antibodies
- Interleukin-4
- phorbolol myristate acetate
- Histamine
- Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
(pharmacology)
- Basophils
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Chronic Disease
- Cytokines
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Female
- Histamine
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Interleukin-4
(metabolism)
- Leukotrienes
(metabolism)
- Male
- Mast Cells
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Middle Aged
- Phenotype
- Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
(analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
- Urticaria
(metabolism)
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