Japanese Cedar-Pollen-Specific IL-5 Production in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Although food allergens and house dust mites are thought to contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants, the influence of pollens has not yet been well defined. Objective: This study attempted to clarify the effect of Japanese cedar pollens (JCPs), which are scattered in Japan between February and April, on AD in infants. Methods: In the first study, seasonal changes in the number of patients who first visited our institute due to AD were analyzed by reviewing medical records of 184 infants with AD. In the second study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 81 children (50 infants <1 year and 31 older children) with AD were stimulated with a standardized JCP allergen. The production of IL-5 was measured and its correlation with the severity of AD in infants was analyzed. Results: The number of infants who first visited the institute due to AD peaked in spring. JCP-specific IL-5 production began to increase immediately after the first contact with JCPs in infants with AD. The production of IL-5 in infants with AD exposed to JCPs was significantly higher than in control subjects (p < 0.002) or in AD infants never exposed to JCPs (p < 0.02). There was a significant positive correlation between IL-5 production and the severity of AD in infants (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: These results suggest that JCPs play an important role in the aggravation of infantile AD in spring by inducing IL-5 production.

Ovalbumin-Induced IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-γProduction in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis

“…Similar changes correlating to age are seen in JCP-induced IL-5 production, which also peaks in infants (<1 year) [25]. This pattern clearly differs than that of HDM-induced IL-5 production, which remains high even after the age of 1, similar to IL-4 production [13, 27].…”

“…Eosinophils and their products such as ECP are thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD [23, 24]. We previously reported that IL-5 production by PBMCs upon stimulation with HDM or Japanese cedar pollens (JCP) was already increased in infants with AD, despite a lack of IgE for these allergens in the serum [20, 25]. In the present study, we also demonstrated that stimulation of PBMCs with OVA induces a large amount of IL-5 production in infants (<1 year) with moderate to severe AD.…”

Johrei Family Healing: A Pilot Study

“…Eczema severity appeared to fall during the first 3 months of the trial but again there may be a seasonal effect with symptoms improving during what was for most children enrolled in the trial, the winter months at the start of the trial. Some studies report increased symptom severity associated with the release of pollen during spring (10) while others report worse symptoms in winter associated with low sun exposure and low temperature (11). A specific effect of Johrei on eczema is difficult to reconcile with the fact that several families dropped out at 3 months despite this apparent improvement.…”