1. Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) mite
antigen induced
IgE synthesis associated with an imbalance of
cytokine production in mite-sensitive patients with
bronchial asthma; increased production of
interleukin 4 (IL-4), and decreased production of
interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was specifically induced in these patients' lymphocytes. 2.
Lecithin-bound iodine (LBI), with which children with
bronchial asthma have been successfully treated in the range of 0.5 to 5 microM, concentrations comparable to LBI blood levels in medicated individuals, modified mite
antigen-induced immune responses, thereby decreasing abnormal lymphocyte functions. 3. In Df
antigen-driven immune responses, inhibition of
IgE generation accompanied by suppression of
IL-4 and the recovery of IFN-gamma production was successful when LBI was used in vitro. 4. LBI also acted on normal PBMCs by downregulating the IL-4-induced
IgE synthesis, phytohaemagglutin (PHA)- and
phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus
calcium ionophore (CaI)-induced
IL-4 secretion, and by upregulating purified
protein derivatives (
PPD)-induced IFN-gamma production. Therefore, LBI was capable of inhibiting the
IgE and
IL-4 responses and of enhancing IFN-gamma production both from
allergen-stimulated atopic cells and from non-atopic cells appropriately stimulated. 5. The expression of human histocompatibility leukocyte
antigen (HLA),
class II antigens and
intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on monocytes, crucial molecules for T cell-monocyte interactions, was not altered by LBI. 6. LBI probably acts as an
immunomodulator to ameliorate mite
antigen-induced abnormal cell-mediated immune responses in patients with
bronchial asthma caused by Df
antigen thereby leading to improvement of their clinical status.