Low cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios: a marker of increased risk for allergy development. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bullens, D. M. A.; Seys, S.; Kasran, A.; Dilissen, E.; Dupont, L. J.; Ceuppens, J. L.
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 45:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 237
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.12389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cea12389-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cea12389-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Data from birth cohort studies suggest that increased cord blood total IgE and reduced cord blood regulatory T cells increase the risk of developing allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12389-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>We here addressed whether serum total IgE and hen's egg‐specific IgE levels at birth and at age 1 year differed between healthy and allergic children in a Belgian birth cohort (FONIA). We furthermore studied whether these parameters as well as cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA levels might predict the allergic outcome.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12389-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods and results</title> <p>Children (<italic>n</italic> = 84) were clinically assessed at the ages of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and at 6 years. Cord blood total IgE levels above 0.35 kU/L predicted early (i.e. before or at the age of 2 years) allergy development. Presence of serum IgE antibodies to hen's egg (cut‐off 0.05 Ua/mL) at the age of 1 year was associated with early as well as late (i.e. between the age of 2 and 6 years) allergy development. Cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios were significantly lower in early allergic children and levels below 0.32 predicted the allergic outcome.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12389-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and clinical Relevance</title> <p>Low cord blood Foxp3/CD3γ mRNA ratios are highly predictive for early allergy development, whereas specific IgE levels to hen's egg white above 0.05 Ua/mL at age 1 year predict allergy development in general.</p> </sec> </abstract>