Interleukin-4 receptor α-chain polymorphisms and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis

Atopy manifestations in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: correlation assessment with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IgE level

BACKGROUND

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in the age range of under 15 years old and accounts for 25-30% of all childhood cancers. Although conventional chemotherapy regimens are used to improve the overall survival rate, it has been associated with some complications, amongst which allergic manifestations with unknown mechanisms are more common.

METHODS

Our study compared serum IgE and IL-4 concentration, as a hallmark of allergic responses in pediatric ALL patients before and after 6 months of intensive (high-dose) chemotherapy, to show whether changes in the level of these markers may be associated with atopy. Serum level of IL-4 and IgE was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTS

The results showed that the level of IgE and IL-4 increased following chemotherapy in both ALL patients with and without atopy. In addition, post-chemotherapy treatment IgE and IL-4 levels were significantly elevated in patients with atopy compared to those without it. The difference between baseline and post-chemotherapy level of IgE and IL-4 was significantly higher in patients with atopy compared to those without it.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed a connection between post-chemotherapy allergic manifestations in pediatric ALL patients and IL-4 and IgE level. Flow cytometry analysis of the T-helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and other allergy-related T cell subsets like Tc2 and Th9 as well as the study of the genetic variations in atopy-related genes like IL-4/IL-4R, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, and high affinity FcεRI IgE receptor and also HLA genes is necessary to clearly define the underlying mechanism responsible for post-chemotherapy hypersensitivity reaction in pediatric ALL patients.

Interaction Between Catalase Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Indoor Environmental Exposure in Childhood Allergic Rhinitis

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease affecting nearly 40% of the children in Taiwan. Genetic susceptibility may interact with specific environmental factors leading to allergic disease development.

METHODS

To assess the interactions between catalase gene promoter polymorphisms and environmental factors on the risk of AR, we conducted a case-control study in Taiwan. Data on AR and environmental factors were collected from 800 children using the ISSAC questionnaire. The case group consisted of 263 children with AR, and the control group consisted of =537 healthy children. Genotyping was performed for rs1001179 and rs769214 polymorphisms, and environmental exposure was assessed using four indicators including dwelling visible molds, mold odor, moisture on surfaces, and water damage.

RESULTS

We found that the presence of visible molds, mold odor, and moisture was associated with AR. An apparent joint effect of the GG genotype and mold odor, compared with the AA and AG combined genotypes and without any exposure indicator (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.95 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20, 3.18]; interaction adjusted odds ratio = 2.59 [95% CI = 1.27, 5.30]), was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that gene-environment interactions between the catalase polymorphism rs769214 and mold odor may play an important role in childhood AR development.

Neonatal Immune State Is Influenced by Maternal Allergic Rhinitis and Associated With Regulatory T cells

Purpose

Maternal influences contribute to the origin of allergic diseases, but the mechanisms are not clear. The current literature prompted the role of epigenetics in the development of allergic diseases. We sought to investigate the roles of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) DNA methylation in the process of maternal transmission of allergic rhinitis (AR) susceptibility.

Methods

BALB/c female mice (AR mother) were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1 on day 1 and 7. Then they mated with normal male mice on day 8. From day 21 to 28, the female mice were intranasal challenged with Der p 1 continuously. The normal controls were given with normal saline in the same way. On postnatal day 3, Female mice and their offspring were sacrificed to detect their histopathology in nasal mucosae, cytokines in sera of mother and spleen homogenates of offspring, Treg cells count, Foxp3 mRNA expressions, and Foxp3 DNA methylation levels in spleens.

Results

Compared with the normal controls, neonatal offspring of Der p 1-stimulated female mice (AR offspring) showed the elevation of interleukin (IL)-4 (P<0.01) and IL-17 (P<0.01), the submission of IL-10 (P<0.01) in spleen homogenates. Further, Treg cells count in AR offspring decreased remarkably compared with the normal offspring (P<0.01). Though the difference of Foxp3 DNA methylation level between AR offspring and normal control offspring was not obvious, correlation analysis demonstrated that there was significantly positive correlation between Foxp3 DNA methylation level of mother and that of offspring (r=0.803, P<0.01).

Conclusions

Under the influence of Maternal AR, their neonatal offspring develop into T-helper type 2 (Th2) dominant immune state, which is closely associated with the recession of Treg cells. Foxp3 DNA methylation may be a mechanism responsible for that maternal effect but still need more studies to ensure.