Association of T helper type 2 cytokines with sensitization to food in pediatric atopic dermatitis patients

Abstract

Background: childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) most commonly presents with sensitization to environmental allergens. Presence of food allergenspecific IgE is common in childhood and does not always correlate with clinical symptoms, which in children usually affect the skin and may exacerbate the course of AD. Exposure to an allergen in the gastrointestinal tract activates Th2 immune reactions. Objective: with this study we wanted to compare blood and stool Th2 cytokine concentrations and fecal calprotectin (FC) value in pediatric AD with (eAD) and without (iAD) sensitization to food. Methods: 51 children with AD were enrolled in the study. 57% (n=29) had food allergen specific IgE and comprised eAD group, 43% (n=22) – iAD group. Blood and stool were tested for IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 concentrations using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Stool samples were tested for FC concentrations. Results: iAD had significantly higher blood and stool IL-4 values than eAD: 2.82 pg/ml vs. 0, p=0.005; 2.98 pg/ml vs. 0, p=0.007, respectively. There was no difference in IL-5 and IL-13 blood and stool concentrations between the groups. Children with AD had significantly higher FC values, compared to healthy controls: 36.5 mg/kg vs. 6.45 mg/kg, p=0.018. FC was slightly higher in eAD group than iAD, but the difference was not significant: 38.5 mg/kg vs. 25.0 mg/kg, p=0.861 . Conclusions: sensitization to food is not significantly associated with Th2 cytokines in pediatric AD patients. Increase in FC values is characteristic to AD, but not sensitization to food.