• M Ando and M Shima.
• Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
• J Invest Allerg Clin. 2007 Jan 1; 17 (1): 14-9.

BackgroundThere is considerable concern about the rising trend in the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases. The ability to monitor this trend would be enhanced by the use of a biological marker for these diseases.ObjectiveThis study investigated whether serum interleukin (IL) 12 and IL-18 levels were associated with allergic symptoms such as those of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in Japanese schoolchildren.MethodsAllergic symptoms and serum IL-12, IL-18, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels were examined in 370 schoolchildren aged 9-10 years living in urban Japanese areas. Allergic symptoms were assessed with a questionnaire designed in accordance with the protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).ResultsSerum IL-12 levels in children were not associated with any allergic symptoms. However, serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in children who had asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic eczema than in those who did not have such symptoms. Serum IL-18 levels were also significantly higher in children with IgE levels of 250 IU/mL or above than in those with levels below 250 IU/mL. Gender-adjusted serum IL-18 levels were still significantly higher in children with allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, or at least one allergic symptom than in those without symptoms.ConclusionThese results suggest that serum IL-18 levels are associated with allergic symptoms in children, independent of serum IgE levels. Thus, serum IL-18 may be a useful biological marker of these diseases.

26 keywords...

hide…