REDUCED IL-1 PRODUCTION IN ADOLESCENTS WITH MITE ANTIGEN ASTHMA IN REMISSION

To determine the immunological mechanisms associated with outgrowing m ite antigen-induced bronchial asthma during adolescence, we studied th e relationship between clinical status and Dermatophagoides farinae (D f) antigen-induced peripheral cell activation by measuring IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta production in patients with bronchial asthma. After anti gen-driven restimulation in vitro, there was increased IL-1 alpha, IL- 1 beta production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from pa tients with active bronchial asthma, while cellular IL-1 alpha, IL-1 b eta production was reduced in patients with asthma in remission. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta production by PBMC (possibly reflecting airway inf lammation) after exposure to DE antigen might be down-regulated in pat ients outgrowing mite antigen-induced asthma, because lipopolysacchari de-induced IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta production (seen in bath normal indiv iduals and patients with active asthma) was also reduced when patients were in remission.