Methods for the in vitro determination of an individual disposition towards TH1-or TH2-reactivity by the application of appropriate stimulatory antigens

In this study we performed several methods for the determination of cytokines (RT-PCR for the demonstration of cytokine mRNA and flow cytometry for the analysis of intracellular cytokines) and compared them with a recently established test system stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with TH1- and TH2-relevant recall antigens and analysing type 1 and type 2 cytokines by ELISA. Aim of the study was therefore to evaluate the reliability of TH1/TH2 cytokine profiles in two individuals with different types of an allergic/atopic disposition: one of them showed a strong TH1/type 1-mediated tuberculin-reaction (subject A), the other (subject B) revealed elevated IgE-levels and eosinophil counts (TH2/type 2-mediated). PBMC were incubated with the type 1-antigen purified protein derivative (PPD) and the type 2-antigen tetanus-toxoid (TT) for seven days. From the comparison of ELISA with RT-PCR and flow cytometry-analysis it became evident that all three methods allowed the definition of subject A as a 'type 1-responder'. Subject B showed a pure type 2-response in the ELISA method; PCR and flow cytometry analysis revealed the simultaneous production of type 1- and type 2-cytokines resulting in a mixed type 1/type 2-profile. Active immunization of subject A with TT at the end of the observation period of 12 months resulted in a transient shift from type 1- to a mixed type 1/type 2-profile (simultaneous PPD-induced IFN-gamma- and TT-induced IL-5 production). From this pilot study based on clear cut clinical criteria concerning either a humoral or cellular immunological reactivity towards allergens/antigens it is suggested that the determination of type 1/type 2-cytokines by ELISA in supernatants of PBMC stimulated with type 1/type 2-relevant antigens is a useful approach for a better classification of 'type1-' or 'type 2-responder'.