Y. Ohshima et al., SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-4 AND SOLUBLE CD23 IN CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIC DISORDERS, European journal of pediatrics, 154(9), 1995, pp. 723-728
In order to clarify the clinical significance of serum interleukin 4 (
IL-4) levels, we measured serum IL-4 concentrations in allergic and no
n-allergic children using a highly sensitive sandwich ELISA. The limit
of detection of the assay was 0.15 pg/ml in serum samples. Serum IL-4
was detected in 96.3% (53/55) of non-allergic controls, in 99.9% (183
/197) of allergic children, in 70% (7/10) of cord blood samples and in
86.7% (26/30) of neonates. The IL-4 levels in sera from non-allergic
controls were relatively constant during the ages examined and all sam
ples were under 1.5 pg/ml. In allergic children, the serum levels of I
L-4 were significantly elevated, particularly at age 13 similar to 24
months. The serum levels of IL-4 did not differ in children with diffe
rent clinical manifestations of allergy, such as bronchial asthma, and
atopic dermatitis. The serum level of soluble CD23 (sCD23) showed an
age-dependent change in allergic and nonallergic children and was sign
ificantly higher in allergic than in non-allergic infants aged 7 to 12
months, but not in other age groups. There was no significant correla
tion among serum levels of IL-4, sCD23 and IgE. Conclusion It is sugge
sted that the measurement of serum IL-4 and sCD23 is helpful in the ex
amination of allergic patients in infancy and early childhood, but nei
ther the serum level of IL-4 nor sCD23 directly reflects in vivo IgE p
roduction.