Climatic Factors Correlate with Innate Immune Response in Children with Dermatophagoides farinae-Induced Allergic Asthma

Abstract

To determine the effect of climatic factors on immune markers in children with Dermatophagoides farinae induced asthma. Serum concentrations of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and D. farinae-specific immunoglobulin E (DF-sIgE), together with peripheral blood eosinophil counts, were measured in children with D. farinae induced (n = 75) or non-D. farinae-induced asthma (n = 17), and in healthy controls (n = 30). Mean temperature and relative humidity in the month before enrolment were calculated from meteorological data. MIF, ECP and eosinophil counts were significantly higher in children with D. farinae-induced asthma than in controls, but comparable with non-D. farinae-induced asthma. Children with D. farinae-induced asthma in a low temperature (< 16 °C) or low relative humidity (< 70%) climate had significantly lower DF-sIgE, MIF, ECP and eosinophil counts than those in a high temperature or high humidity climate. DF-sIgE correlated positively with MIF, ECP and eosinophil count in D. farinae-induced asthma. Temperature and humidity influenced MIF, ECP, eosinophil count and DF-sIgE in D. farinae-induced asthma. Understanding this relationship may provide new strategies for asthma prevention and treatment.