Frequencies of T cells expressing interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 in atopic asthmatic children : Comparison with atopic asthmatic adults

T-cell-derived cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and it has been suggested that Th2-type cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4], interleukin-5 [IL-5]) are pivotal in the allergic inflammation. However, there are little data on human cytokine production by individual T cells at the protein level, in particular in asthmatic children. In this study we analyzed the cytokine production at the single cell level in peripheral blood from mild atopic asthmatic (AA) children and adults and age-matched atopic nonasthmatic (AN) and nonatopic nonasthmatic (NN) control subjects (n = 9 in each group) using the technique of intracellular cytokine detection by flow cytometry. Comparing asthmatic children with atopic and nonatopic control subjects, an increased percentage of IL-5-producing T cells (AA: median 4.9% [range 1.1 to 8.9%]; AN: 0.3% [0.2 to 0.9%], p = 0.003; NN: 0.4% [0.1 to 3.8%], p = 0.001) was detectable, with a positive correlation to the number of peripheral eosinophils and to bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The frequency of IL-4-producing T cells was increased in both atopic groups compared with nonatopic controls (AA: 1.2% [0.2 to 2.6%], p = 0.011; AN: 0.8% [0.4 to 3.7%], p = 0.007; NN: 0.4% [0.2 to 0.9%]) with a positive correlation to total IgE concentration. In adults there were no differences in IL-5- or IL-4-producing T cells between all three groups. A substantial proportion of T cells coproducing IL-4 and IL-5 was not detectable in children and adults. These findings indicate that in asthmatic children the frequencies of Th2-type-producing T cells are increased and that expression of IL-4 and IL-5 is regulated independently.