The Expression of IL-4 and Interferon-gamma Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Severe Atopic Dermatitis:Evaluation in Proportion to Serum IgE Levels.
10.5021/ad.2001.13.2.76
- Author:
Chul Jong PARK
;
Mun Gan RHYU
;
Jin Woo KIM
;
Chung Won KIM
;
Jong Yuk YI
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Atopic dermatitis;
IFN-γ;
IgE;
IL-4
- MeSH:
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Gene Expression;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E*;
Interferon-gamma*;
Interleukin-4*;
RNA, Messenger;
T-Lymphocytes
- From:Annals of Dermatology
2001;13(2):76-81
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: It is not yet clear whether the abnormal cytokine production in relation to serum IgE levels in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with the amount of mRNA of cytokine gene. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to delineate the effect of reciprocal correlation in the level of mRNA between interleukin-4 (I") and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in severe AD. METHODS: We examined 15 cases including 5 AD patients with high serum IgE (>2,000 kU/liter), 5 AD patients with low serum IgE (<100 kU/liter), and 5 healthy controls. Using semi quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined. RESULTS: 1) IL-4 gene expression in spontaneous PBMC was higher in AD patient groups than in control group, significantly higher only in AD patient group with high serum IgE level (p < 0.05). 2) IFN-γ gene expression in spontaneous PBMC showed increased tendency in AD patient groups than in control group without statistical significance. 3) IL-4 and IFN-γ gene expressions in stimulated PBMC were not different among all three groups. CONCLUSION: In light of our results, high and low IgE subgroups in AD can exist and AD may not be R characterized by the shift in the reciprocal relationship between IL-4 and IFN-γ when T cells are stimulated under antigen presenting cell-independent conditions.
