Cytokine expression in CD3+ cells in an infant with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES): case report

Clin Dev Immunol. 2009:2009:679381. doi: 10.1155/2009/679381.

Abstract

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy characterized by severe vomiting, diarrhea, and often failure to thrive in infants. Symptoms typically resolve after the triggering food-derived protein is removed from the diet and recur within few hours after the re-exposure to the causal protein. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and a positive food challenge. In this study, we report a case of FPIES to rice in an 8-month-old boy. We performed a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to rice and we measured the intracellular T cell expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4); IL-10, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) pre-and post-challenge during an acute FPIES reaction and when tolerance to rice had been achieved. For the first time we describe an increase in T cell IL-4 and decrease in IFN-gamma expression after a positive challenge with rice (i.e. rice triggered a FPIES attack) and an increase in T cell IL-10 expression after rice challenge 6 months later after a negative challenge (i.e., the child had acquired tolerance to rice) in an 8 month old with documented FPIES to rice. A Th2 activation associated with high IL-4 levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. On the other hand, T cell-derived IL-10 may play a role in the acquisition of immunotolerance by regulating the Th1 and Th2 responses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding
  • CD3 Complex / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diarrhea
  • Enterocolitis / chemically induced
  • Enterocolitis / diagnosis
  • Enterocolitis / immunology*
  • Enterocolitis / physiopathology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunization
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Oryza / adverse effects*
  • Oryza / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / pathology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism*
  • Th2 Cells / pathology
  • Vomiting

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • Cytokines