Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in asthmatic children.

Asthma is a disease that demonstrates chronic Th2 lymphocyte-mediated pulmonary inflammation. We hypothesized that cytokines produced by asthmatic lung inflammation bias the immune response to antigens administered systemically toward a Th2 response, as assessed by serum IgE antibody and lymphocyte-secreted IL-4 and IL-5. We also hypothesized that treatment of asthmatic children with local anti-inflammatory agents reduces this cytokine-mediated Th2 influence.