The frequency of cells secreting interferon-γ and interleukin-4, -5, and -10 in the blood and duodenal mucosa of children with cow's milk hypersensitivity

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant spots (ELISPOTs) have been used to analyze the frequency of cells spontaneously secreting interferon-γ (INF-γ), IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10 in mononuclear cells isolated from the blood of children with cow's milk-sensitive enteropathy (CMSE), cow's milk allergy (CMA), and age- matched controls. In addition, cytokine profiles of duodenal lamina propria lymphocytes were compared in patients with CMSE and control subjects. In blood, spontaneous cytokine-secreting cells were uncommon, but there was significantly increased IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 ELISPOTs in children with CMSE and CMA compared with control subjects. IL-4 ELISPOTs were significantly greater in the blood of children with CMA compared with those with CMSE. In the lamina propria the frequencies of spontaneous cytokine- secreting cells were high compared with that in blood. Significantly increased ELISPOTs for IFF-γ and IL-4 were found in CMSE compared with controls. IL-5 ELISPOTs were unchanged, and IL-10 ELISPOTs were reduced in CMSE compared with controls. These results show a general enhancement of Th1 and Th2-type cytokine-secreting cells th the blood of children with cow's milk hypersensitivity, although the increased IL-4-secreting cells in blood in CMA may be of relevance in view of the fact that this disease is IgE- mediated. In the lamina propria, there is also enhancement of IFN-γ- and IL- 4-secreting cells in CMSE compared with control subjects; however, cells secreting IFN-γ are 10 times more numerous than cells secreting IL-4, showing a dominance of Th1-type responses in both controls and CMSE patients.