Reduced IL-1 production in adolescents with mite antigen asthma in remission.

To determine the immunological mechanisms associated with outgrowing mite antigen-induced bronchial asthma during adolescence, we studied the relationship between clinical status and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) antigen-induced peripheral cell activation by measuring IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production in patients with bronchial asthma. After antigen-driven restimulation in vitro, there was increased IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with active bronchial asthma, while cellular IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production was reduced in patients with asthma in remission. IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production by PBMC (possibly reflecting airway inflammation) after exposure to Df antigen might be down-regulated in patients outgrowing mite antigen-induced asthma, because lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1alpha, IL-1beta production (seen in both normal individuals and patients with active asthma) was also reduced when patients were in remission.