TY - JOUR
T1 - Age- and infection-related maturation of the nasal immune response in 0-2-year-old children
AU - van Benten, I. J.
AU - van Drunen, C. M.
AU - Koopman, L. P.
AU - van Middelkoop, B. C.
AU - Hop, W. C. J.
AU - Osterhaus, A. D. M. E.
AU - Neijens, H. J.
AU - Fokkens, W. J.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Background: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to micro-organisms influences development of the immune system in children. Methods: In this study, we examined nasal immune responses in the first 2 years of life in relation to age of children and the number of viral infections they have experienced. Nasal brushes were taken during rhinovirus- (n = 20) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced (n = 7) upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and of controls (n = 40). Results: The number of macrophages were higher during URTI and increased with age. The number of T lymphocytes increased with age in controls and were higher during URTI at all ages. We found an age-related decrease in the number of interleukin (IL)-4- and IL-10-positive cells in controls, while the number of IL-12-positive cells remained unchanged. Changes in T lymphocyte and IL-4 cell number were stronger related to the age of the child than to the number of respiratory infections, while the opposite was true for macrophages. Conclusions: In infants, we found an infection- and age-related increase respectively for nasal macrophages and T lymphocytes during URTI. Furthermore, the number of IL-4- and IL-10-positive cells decreased with age. Whether this maturation reflects a natural age-related maturation, the degree of exposure to respiratory infections, or possibly both, could not be resolved and needs further study
AB - Background: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to micro-organisms influences development of the immune system in children. Methods: In this study, we examined nasal immune responses in the first 2 years of life in relation to age of children and the number of viral infections they have experienced. Nasal brushes were taken during rhinovirus- (n = 20) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced (n = 7) upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and of controls (n = 40). Results: The number of macrophages were higher during URTI and increased with age. The number of T lymphocytes increased with age in controls and were higher during URTI at all ages. We found an age-related decrease in the number of interleukin (IL)-4- and IL-10-positive cells in controls, while the number of IL-12-positive cells remained unchanged. Changes in T lymphocyte and IL-4 cell number were stronger related to the age of the child than to the number of respiratory infections, while the opposite was true for macrophages. Conclusions: In infants, we found an infection- and age-related increase respectively for nasal macrophages and T lymphocytes during URTI. Furthermore, the number of IL-4- and IL-10-positive cells decreased with age. Whether this maturation reflects a natural age-related maturation, the degree of exposure to respiratory infections, or possibly both, could not be resolved and needs further study
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00684.x
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00684.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15647045
SN - 0105-4538
VL - 60
SP - 226
EP - 232
JO - Allergy
JF - Allergy
IS - 2
ER -