BACKGROUND: Infection with EBV has previously been implicated in influencing allergic disorders, but its precise role remains contradictory. The timing of primary infection may contribute to the discrepancies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating whether the time-point of primary EBV infection during childhood could be of importance in modulating the risk of developing IgE sensitization. METHODS: A total of 219 Swedish infants were followed prospectively to 5 years of age with clinical examinations, skin prick testing, specific IgE analyses, and determination of serostatus against EBV. RESULTS: After analysis of the children's EBV serostatus, we found that 5-year-olds who were infected with EBV before the age of 2 years were at a significantly lower risk of being persistently IgE-sensitized-that is, sensitized at both 2 and 5 years of age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.94). In contrast, contraction of EBV after 2 years of age was highly associated with late-onset IgE sensitization (adjusted odds ratio, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.57-13.69). Persistently sensitized 5-year-olds had higher specific-IgE levels than children with late-onset IgE sensitization (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our data support the value of early-life microbial exposure for protection against the development of IgE sensitization and underscore the proximate postnatal years as an important period during which EBV could contribute to an allergo-protective immune profile. Copyright 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND:Infection with EBV has previously been implicated in influencing allergic disorders, but its precise role remains contradictory. The timing of primary infection may contribute to the discrepancies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating whether the time-point of primary EBV infection during childhood could be of importance in modulating the risk of developing IgE sensitization. METHODS: A total of 219 Swedish infants were followed prospectively to 5 years of age with clinical examinations, skin prick testing, specific IgE analyses, and determination of serostatus against EBV. RESULTS: After analysis of the children's EBV serostatus, we found that 5-year-olds who were infected with EBV before the age of 2 years were at a significantly lower risk of being persistently IgE-sensitized-that is, sensitized at both 2 and 5 years of age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.94). In contrast, contraction of EBV after 2 years of age was highly associated with late-onset IgE sensitization (adjusted odds ratio, 4.64; 95% CI, 1.57-13.69). Persistently sensitized 5-year-olds had higher specific-IgE levels than children with late-onset IgE sensitization (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our data support the value of early-life microbial exposure for protection against the development of IgE sensitization and underscore the proximate postnatal years as an important period during which EBV could contribute to an allergo-protective immune profile. Copyright 2010 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Joannah R Fergusson; Kira E Smith; Vicki M Fleming; Neil Rajoriya; Evan W Newell; Ruth Simmons; Emanuele Marchi; Sophia Björkander; Yu-Hoi Kang; Leo Swadling; Ayako Kurioka; Natasha Sahgal; Helen Lockstone; Dilair Baban; Gordon J Freeman; Eva Sverremark-Ekström; Mark M Davis; Miles P Davenport; Vanessa Venturi; James E Ussher; Christian B Willberg; Paul Klenerman Journal: Cell Rep Date: 2014-10-23 Impact factor: 9.423
Authors: Maria A Johansson; Shanie Saghafian-Hedengren; Yeneneh Haileselassie; Stefan Roos; Marita Troye-Blomberg; Caroline Nilsson; Eva Sverremark-Ekström Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-11-20 Impact factor: 3.240