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-1α and IL-lβ production in patients with bronchial asthma. After antigen-driven restimulation in vitro, there was increased IL-1α, IL-1β production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with active bronchial asthma, while cellular IL-1α, IL-1β production was reduced in patients with asthma in remission. IL-1α and IL-1β 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-1α, IL-1β production (seen in both normal individuals and patients with active asthma) was also reduced when patients were in remission.