CD14 is a GPI-linked glycoprotein exclusively expressed on mature monocytes. We have shown that the CD14 interferes with monocyte-dependent T cell proliferation. Landmann et al reported that r-IFN gamma down-regulates monocyte CD14 antigen expression in human. We have also obtained preliminary evidence showing that CD14 inhibits IgE, but not IgG, IgA, IgM production by B cells. In our studies, there is no difference of CD14 expression on monocytes in healthy children and asthmatic children. The number of CD14 expression on monocytes of allergic patients is higher after dust-mite challenge than before dust-mite challenge (86.04.plmin.5.53% vs. 84.14.plmin.6.94%), but lower in treated asthmatic children (82.47.plmin.7.52% vs. 86.54.plmin.5.98%, p<0.05). After allergen stimulation, T cells produce more higher IL-4 in vitro in newly asthmatic children than that in treated asthmatic children (34.23.plmin.16.26 vs. 25.76.plmin.10.89pg/ml), but there is no significant difference of IFN-r production between newly asthmatic children and treated asthmatic children (36.84.plmin.8.85 vs. 37.18.plmin.5.36IU/ml). Our results also show that the intensities of IL-4 mRNA signals are more strong in newly asthmatic children than that in treated patients (447.00.plmin.158.74 vs. 247.25.plmin.74.21 grains/20 cells). But there are no significant difference of hybridization signal for IFN-r mRNA (313.44.plmin.10.32 vs. 322.44.plmin.36.74 grains/20 cells). In summary, the mechanism accounting for the beneficial effect of immunotherapy are not yet completely understood. The finding obtained in this study might be used to explain its working mechanism.
