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Indoor Mould Exposure Reduces Th 1 Reactivity in Early Childhood

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Institute of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, ilehmann{at}expo.ufz.de

Andrea Müller

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle

Ulrike Diez

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle

Matthias Richter

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle

Swantje Wallach

Institute of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine

Gabriele Sierig

Department of Paediatrics

Annett Seiffart

Department of Paediatrics

Heide Wetzig

Department of Paediatrics

Michael Borte

Department of Paediatrics

Olf Herbarth

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Hygiene, University of Leipzig, Germany

A birth cohort study (LARS - Leipzig Allergy Risk Children Study) was used to investigate the influence of indoor mould exposure on T cell function in early childhood. T cell cytokines (IFN-, IL-4) were analysed in a sub-group of the LARS cohort (birth: n = 39, 6 months: n = 11, 12 months: n = 50, 36 months: n = 33). Mould burden was assessed by analysis of questionnaires completed at the birth of the child and measurement of indoor mould spores was carried out when the children were 3 years old. Children whose parents reported mould burden or dampness in their dwellings at the time of birth showed lower amounts of IFN- producing Th1 cells during the first year of life (significant at 12 months) in comparison to unexposed children. The capacity to produce IL-4 was not altered, however. When the children were 3 years old, an association between measured indoor mould and suppressed Th1 reactivity was observed. The data suggest that indoor mould exposure is associated with reduced Th1 reactivity in early childhood.

Key Words: Indoor mould • Allergy • Children • T cells • IFN- • IL-4 • Th1 cells • Th2 cells

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