Background Traditional farming represents a unique model situation to investigate the relationship of early-life farm-related exposure and allergy protection. Objectives To investigate associations ...between maternal farm exposures and cytokine production in cord blood (CB) mononuclear cells in a prospective multinational birth cohort of 299 farm and 326 nonfarm children and their families. Methods Supernatants from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin–stimulated CB mononuclear cells were assessed for the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-12. Results Significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in farm compared with nonfarm children were found, whereas IL-5, IL-10, and IL-12 levels did not differ between study groups. Maternal contact with different farm animal species and barns and consumption of farm-produced butter during pregnancy enhanced the production of proinflammatory CB cytokines, whereas maternal consumption of farm-produced yogurt resulted in significant lower levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in umbilical blood. Conclusion Maternal exposure to farming activities and farm dairy products during pregnancy modulated cytokine production patterns of offspring at birth.
Background There is evidence that gene expression of innate immunity receptors is upregulated by farming-related exposures. Objective We sought to determine environmental and nutritional exposures ...associated with the gene expression of innate immunity receptors during pregnancy and the first year of a child's life. Methods For the Protection Against Allergy: Study in Rural Environments (PASTURE) birth cohort study, 1133 pregnant women were recruited in rural areas of Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland. mRNA expression of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 1 through TLR9 and CD14 was assessed in blood samples at birth (n = 938) and year 1 (n = 752). Environmental exposures, as assessed by using questionnaires and a diary kept during year 1, and polymorphisms in innate receptor genes were related to gene expression of innate immunity receptors by using ANOVA and multivariate regression analysis. Results Gene expression of innate immunity receptors in cord blood was overall higher in neonates of farmers ( P for multifactorial multivariate ANOVA = .041), significantly so for TLR7 (adjusted geometric means ratio aGMR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.30) and TLR8 (aGMR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.26). Unboiled farm milk consumption during the first year of life showed the strongest association with mRNA expression at year 1, taking the diversity of other foods introduced during that period into account: TLR4 (aGMR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.45), TLR5 (aGMR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01-1.41), and TLR6 (aGMR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.38). A previously described modification of the association between farm milk consumption and CD14 gene expression by the single nucleotide polymorphism CD14/C-1721T was not found. Conclusion Farming-related exposures, such as raw farm milk consumption, that were previously reported to decrease the risk for allergic outcomes were associated with a change in gene expression of innate immunity receptors in early life.
Atopic sensitization in the first year of life Depner, Martin, PhD; Ege, Markus J., MD; Genuneit, Jon, MD ...
Journal of allergy and clinical immunology,
03/2013, Letnik:
131, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background There is conflicting evidence on whether allergen-specific memory is primed prenatally, whether this priming affects persistent immunologic effects, and whether it is modulated by the ...first environmental exposures in infancy. Objective We sought to explore the course of atopic sensitization between birth and 12 months of age. Methods Specific IgE levels for 6 food and 13 common inhalant allergens were assessed in cord blood and 1-year blood samples in the Protection against Allergy–Study in Rural Environments (PASTURE) birth cohort including 793 children from rural regions of 5 European countries. Detailed information on children’s health, nutrition, and farm-related exposures was gathered by using a pregnancy questionnaire, 2 questionnaires at 2 and 12 months of age, and a diary covering the time in between. Results Sensitization was more common at 12 months of age than at birth for almost all specificities. On an individual level, persistent sensitization to the same allergens was rare (1%), whereas transient (only at birth, 11%) and incident (only at 12 months, 34%) sensitization was seen in substantial proportions of children. Associations of transient sensitization with maternal sensitization differed with the allergen specificities, with the strongest associations for food allergens (odds ratio OR, 10.6; 95% CI, 6.0-18.6) and the weakest associations for seasonal allergens (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.94-2.86). Associations of maternal sensitization with incident sensitization were also seen. Incident sensitization was related to distinct prenatal and postnatal environmental exposures of mother and child, such as consumption of cereals for incident sensitization to seasonal allergens (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.88). Conclusion IgE sensitization patterns change between birth and 12 months and are related to maternal and environmental influences.
Background It is currently discussed whether allergic sensitization may start in utero under the influence of the maternal immune system and environmental determinants. Objective To investigate the ...relationship between allergen-specific cord blood (CB) IgE levels, parental sensitization, CB cytokine production, and environmental influences. Methods As part of an ongoing multicenter birth cohort study, allergen-specific IgE antibodies against 20 common seasonal, perennial, and food allergens were measured in blood samples from 922 neonates, 922 mothers, and 835 fathers. Supernatants from stimulated CB cells were assessed for the production of IL-5, IFN-γ, IL-10, and TNF-α. Results Allergen-specific IgE antibodies were detectable in 23.9% of newborns. Contamination with maternal serum was excluded by several means of analyses, including the absence of IgA antibodies. Clear correlation between maternal and fetal IgE was found only for hen's egg, cow's milk, and soybean allergen. Fetal IgE correlated negatively with the level of IFN-γ production, but not with IL-5 and IL-10. Conclusion Allergen-specific IgE antibodies most probably of fetal origin are detectable in CB and correlate with a lowered CB IFN-γ production.
