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Effect of Mycobacterium vaccae on cytokine responses in children with atopic dermatitis.
Hadley E, Smillie F, Turner M, Custovic A, Woodcock AA, Arkwright P
Clin Exp Immunol. 2005;140( 1):101-8.
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Abstract
The increasing prevalence of atopic diseases over the last few decades is thought to be due to reduced exposure to environmental microbes that normally down-regulate allergic responses (hygiene hypothesis).We have shown previously that administration of the environmental microbeMycobacterium vaccae ameliorates atopic dermatitis in school-age childrenat 3 months post-treatment. The present study tested the hypothesis thatM. vaccae suppresses Th2-type cytokine activity and increases transforminggrowth factor (TGF)-beta(1) immunomodulatory activity in these children.Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, TGF-beta(1) and interferon (IFN)-gamma activitywere assessed in resting and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) isolated from 12 of the children who received M. vaccae in ouroriginal clinical trial. A cDNA expression array was used to examine abroader range of cytokine pathway transcripts. There were no significantchanges in either Th2-type or TGF-beta(1) activity. A 5- to 10-foldincrease in Th1-type activity was found at 1 month post-M. vaccaeadministration (P < 0.05), but it had returned to baseline by 3 months.The results do not support the hypothesis that M. vaccae reduces Th2-typeor increases TGF-beta(1) activity of PBMC isolated from children withatopic dermatitis. The transient surge in IFN-gamma at 1 month is unlikelyto explain any improvement in eczema score at 3 months.