REGULATION OF DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY - DECREASED PREVALENCE OF IGE-MEDIATED ALLERGIC DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

The development of restricted cytokine profiles by subsets of CD4(+) T cells is a pivotal point in the regulation of immune responses. T cel ls producing Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and interferon-gamma) induce cell-med iated immunity, whereas T cells producing Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, a nd IL-10) play a prominent role in the induction of humoral immunity. We examined a group of patients with multiple sclerosis, a disease cau sed by excess production of Th1 cytokines in myelin-reactive T cells, and control patients with noninflammatory neuroconvulsive disorders, f or the presence of allergic disease, which is caused by excess product ion of Th2 cytokines in allergen-specific T cells. The patients with m ultiple sclerosis had significantly fewer allergic symptoms, a lower n umber of positive allergen-specific IgE test results, and lower compos ite allergy indexes than control subjects. These results demonstrate t hat the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergic disease is decreased in a group of patients with multiple sclerosis and support the hypothesis t hat genetic factors that promote susceptibility to Th1-medicated infla mmatory disease in human beings protect against the development of Th2 -medicated disease.