Pregnancy modulates the allergen‐induced cytokine production differently in allergic and non‐allergic women

Martina S. Abelius, Malin Jedenfalk, Jan Ernerudh, Camilla Janefjord, Göran Berg, Leif Matthiesen, Maria C. Jenmalm

The immunological environment during pregnancy may differ between allergic and non-allergic women. This study investigates the effect of maternal allergy on the allergen-induced cytokine and chemokine levels and if pregnancy modulates these immune responses differently in allergic and non-allergic women. The birch-, cat-, phytohemagglutinin- and tetanus toxoid-induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, the T-helper 1 (Th1)-associated chemokine CXCL10 and the Th2-associated chemokine CCL17 levels were quantified in 20 women with allergic symptoms (sensitised, n=13) and 36 women without allergic symptoms (non-sensitised, n=30) at gestational weeks 10-12, 15-16, 25, 35 and 2 and 12 months postpartum. Birch-, but not cat-induced, IL-5, IL-13 and CCL17 levels were increased during pregnancy as compared with postpartum in the sensitised women with allergic symptoms. In contrast, cat-, but not birch-induced, IL-5 and IL-13 levels were increased during pregnancy as compared with postpartum in the non-sensitised women without allergic symptoms. Furthermore, IFN-γ secretion was increased in the first and decreased in the second and third trimesters in response to birch and decreased in the third trimester in response to cat as compared with postpartum in the non-sensitised women without allergic symptoms. Increased allergen-induced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 levels were associated with allergic symptoms and sensitisation. Pregnancy had a clear effect on the allergen-induced IL-5, IL-13, CCL17, IFN-γ and CXCL10 production, with distinct enhanced Th2-responses to birch in the allergic group and to cat in the non-allergic group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.