Wird die Protektion gegen Allergien bereits im Mutterleib angelegt?

Summary

Background

Traditional farming represents a unique model situation to investigate the relationship of early-life farm-related exposure and allergy protection. The aim of PASTURE (Protection against Allergy-Study in Rural Environments) was to investigate associations between maternal farm exposures and cytokine production in cord blood (CB) mononuclear cells in a prospective multinational birth cohort of 299 farm and 326 nonfarm children and their families.

Methods

Supernatants from PMA(phorbol myristate acetate)/ionomycin-stimulated CB mononuclear cells were assessed for the production of interferon(IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-5, IL-10, and IL-12.

Results

Significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in farm compared with nonfarm children were found, whereas IL-5, IL-10, and IL-12 levels did not differ between study groups. Maternal contact with different farm animal species and barns and consumption of farm-produced butter during pregnancy enhanced the production of pro-inflammatory CB cytokines, whereas maternal consumption of farm-produced yogurt resulted in significantly lower levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in umbilical blood.

Conclusion

Maternal exposure to farming activities and farm dairy products during pregnancy modulated cytokine production patterns of offspring at birth.