Desequilíbrio imunológico periférico mediado por células Th17/Treg em pacientes com rinite alérgica / Peripheral Th17/Treg cell-mediated immunity imbalance in allergic rhinitis patients

Introdução: A rinite alérgica (RA) é uma doença não infecciosa da mucosa nasal mediada por IgE após o contato com alérgenos. Objetivo: Investigar as células Th17 periféricas e CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + células T reguladoras (Treg) e a expressão sérica de citocinas em pacientes com RA. Métodos: De março a maio de 2012, foi coletado o sangue periférico de 14 pacientes com RA (grupo RA) e seis indivíduos saudáveis (grupo controle). A detecção das células Th17 e células Treg foi realizada através da citometria de fluxo e os níveis séricos de IL -17 e TGF- β1. Foram medidos por ELISA. Resultados: A percentagem de células Th17 no grupo RA foi bem maior do que no grupo controle (p < 0,01). A proporção de células Treg no grupo RA também foi drasticamente menor quando comparada ao grupo controle (p < 0,01). No grupo RA, o nível sérico de IL-17 foi significativamente maior do que no grupo controle (p < 0,01). Conclusão: O desequilíbrio de células Th17/Treg periféricas desempenha um papel importante na patogênese da RA. .

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated non-infectious disease of the nasal mucosa following contact with allergens. Objective: To investigate the peripheral Th17 cells and CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T (Treg) cells and the expression of cytokines in the serum of AR patients. Methods: The peripheral blood of 14 patients with AR (AR group) and six healthy subjects (control group) was collected from March to May of 2012. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the Th17 cells and Treg cells, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the serum levels of IL-17 and TGF-β1. Results: The proportion of Th17 cells in the AR group was markedly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.01). The proportion of Treg cells in the AR group was also dramatically reduced when compared with the control group (p < 0.01). In the AR group, serum IL-17 levels were markedly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01). In the AR group, serum TGF-β1 levels were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The imbalance of peripheral Th17/Treg cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AR. .

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and self-reported allergic rhinitis in Norwegian adults - The HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of low vitamin D status in the development of allergic rhinitis is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and incidence of allergic rhinitis in adults. METHODS: The study included a random sample from an adult population who participated in the second and third surveys of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway (HUNT2, 1995-1997 and HUNT3, 2006-2008). Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in blood samples collected at baseline. Among 1351 adults who did not report allergic rhinitis at baseline, incident allergic rhinitis was identified by participant report of having or having had allergic rhinitis or hay fever at follow-up. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated after adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity, socioeconomic status, family history of allergy, body mass index, and season. The analyses were stratified by sex due to its significant interaction with 25(OH)D levels (P < 0.02). RESULTS: Over an average of 11 years, 9% of men and 15% of women developed allergic rhinitis. Among men, serum 25(OH)D level <50 nM was associated with an increased risk of incident allergic rhinitis (AOR 2.55; 95% CI 1.01-6.49); each 25 nM reduction in 25(OH)D level was associated with an AOR of 1.84 (95% CI 1.18-2.87). In women, however, the association was opposite, with AOR being 0.83 (95% CI 0.66-1.05) for each 25 nM reduction in serum 25(OH)D level. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D appears to play different roles in the development of allergic rhinitis among men and women.

The association of asthma, nasal allergies, and positive skin prick tests with obesity, leptin, and adiponectin.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional and longitudinal reports show that obese adults have more asthma than non-obese adults. A proposed mechanism is via effects of adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) on the immune system. OBJECTIVE: We wished to measure the associations of asthma and other atopic diseases with serum adipokine levels and to find whether the associations with asthma were strong enough to rule out the possibility that they are secondary to the association of fatness measures with asthma. METHODS: The Global Asthma and Allergy Network of Excellence (GA(2) LEN) clinical follow-up survey is a clinical survey, embedded in a larger multi-centre cross-sectional postal survey, involving, with a case/control design, enrichment of the sample with subjects with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We recorded serum leptin or adiponectin in 845 men and 1110 women in 15 centres and also anthropometric measures of fatness including body mass index and waist/hip ratio, current asthma, and specific skin prick and IgE sensitisation. We used inverse sampling-probability-weighted rank and regression statistics to measure population associations of disease outcomes with adipokines in males and females, adjusting for confounders (area, age, smoking history, and number of elder siblings) and also mutually adjusting associations with adipokines and fatness measures. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred and fifty-five subjects aged 16-77 years had information on leptin or adiponectin levels. Leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratio were positively associated with the level of asthma, especially in females (Somers' D of leptin by asthma score, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.08-0.30; P = 0.00079). These associations were attenuated after adjusting for confounders and became non-significant after additionally adjusting for fatness measures and multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Asthma levels are positively associated with serum leptin. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that this association is secondary to associations of both with fatness measures.

Possible pathogenic role of T helper type 9 cells and interleukin (IL)-9 in atopic dermatitis.

T helper type 9 (Th9) cells are a novel identified subset of CD4(+) T helper cells, which could partly contribute to allergic inflammation, while the precise contribution of Th9 cells in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unknown. We aimed to explore the possible role of Th9 cells in AD pathogenesis. The Th9 cell percentage, transcription factor PU.1 and cytokine interleukin (IL)-9 mRNA levels, as well as IL-9 serum concentration in peripheral circulation, were measured in AD patients, psoriasis patients and healthy controls. The Th9 cell percentage, PU.1 and IL-9 expression levels of AD patients were all increased significantly compared with the other two control groups (P < 0·01), and correlated positively with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis index, serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) levels (P < 0·05). In simple AD patients and AD patients complicated by allergic rhinitis or asthma, there were no significant differences in the Th9 cell percentage, PU.1 and IL-9 expression levels between them. At the same time, IL-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels were detected in AD lesions and normal skin samples, which were both distinctly elevated in AD lesions, and there was a positive association between them (P < 0·01). Keratinocytes were cultured with IL-9 stimulation and the secretion of VEGF was detected. IL-9 can promote the secretion of VEGF by keratinocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the expansion of the Th9 cell subset, up-regulation of the PU.1 transcription factor and increased secretion of the IL-9 cytokine may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, which may be supported by the increased release of VEGF by keratinocyes after IL-9 stimulation.

Characterisation of CD154+ T cells following ex vivo allergen stimulation illustrates distinct T cell responses to seasonal and perennial allergens in allergic and non-allergic individuals.

BACKGROUND: Allergic sensitisation has been ascribed to a dysregulated relationship between allergen-specific Th1, Th2 and regulatory T cells. We sought to utilise our short-term CD154 detection method to further analyse the relationship between these T cell subsets and investigate differences between seasonal and perennial allergens. Using peripheral blood samples from grass-allergic, cat-allergic and healthy non-atopic subjects, we compared the frequencies and phenotype of CD154-positive T helper cells following stimulation with seasonal (grass) and perennial (cat dander) allergens. RESULTS: We identified a higher frequency of CD154+ T cells in grass-allergic individuals compared to healthy controls; this difference was not evident following stimulation with cat allergen. Activated Th1, Th2 and Tr1-like cells, that co-express IFNγ, IL4 and IL10, respectively, were identified in varying proportions in grass-allergic, cat-allergic and non-allergic individuals. We confirmed a close correlation between Th1, Th2 and Tr1-like cell frequency in non-allergic volunteers, such that the three parameters increased together to maintain a low Th2: Th1 ratio. This relationship was dysregulated in grass-allergic individuals with no correlation between the T cell subsets and a higher Th2: Th1 ratio. We confirmed previous reports of a late-differentiated T cell phenotype in response to seasonal allergens compared to early-differentiated T cell responses to perennial allergens. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm our existing work illustrating an important balance between Th1, Th2 and Tr1-like responses to allergens in health, where Th2 responses are frequently observed, but balanced by Th1 and regulatory responses. We confirm previous tetramer-based reports of phenotypic differences in T cells responding to seasonal and perennial allergens.

Allergic rhinitis and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in Korean adults.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been suggested that airway hyper-responsiveness, asthma, and atopic dermatitis are associated with a low vitamin D level. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is related to serum vitamin D levels in the general Korean adult population. METHODS: Data obtained as part of the fourth annual Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009) of 8,012 adults older than 18 years were analyzed. The correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level and presence of AR using questionnaires on symptoms, history of diagnosis of AR, and rhinoscopic findings were analyzed. All estimates were calculated based on sampling weight. RESULTS: Mean age was 44.41 years and men constituted 49.8% of the sample. Participants with diagnosed AR constituted 11.1%. The mean 25(OH)D level of the AR group was lower than that of the non-AR group (16.71 ± 0.30 vs 17.75 ± 0.25 ng/mL, P < .001). A comparison of the prevalence of AR in the 3 groups showed that AR steadily decreased in the higher 25(OH)D groups (13.0% in group I [<15 ng/mL], 11.5% in group II [≥15-<25 ng/mL], and 7.2% in group III [≥25 ng/mL], P < .001). After adjusting for body mass index, smoking status, age, sex, sun exposure, income quartile, exercise, and body fat percentage, lower serum 25(OH)D levels remained significantly associated with the presence of AR compared with group III (hazard ratio 1.559 in group I and 1.430 in group II). CONCLUSION: This study suggested a potential association between low vitamin D levels and AR prevalence in Korean adults.

Análisis de la curva flujo-volumen en niños y adolescentes con rinitis alérgica sin asma / Analysis of the fow-volume curve in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis without asthma

Introducción. Existen evidencias epidemiológicas, funcionales y patológicas que vinculan las vías aéreas superior e inferior, reconocidas clínicamente como una vía aérea única. Los pacientes con rinitis alérgica sin asma podrían presentar anormalidades espirométricas subclínicas. Objetivos. Describir los resultados de las curvas fujo-volumen en un grupo de pacientes con rinitis alérgica sin asma y analizar las posibles asociaciones entre las variables antropométricas, clínicas y bioquímicas con los resultados anormales de las pruebas espirométricas. Población y métodos. Estudio observacional descriptivo, en el que se incluyeron niños y adolescentes de entre 6 y 18 años con síntomas de rinitis alérgica sin asma. Se estableció la edad, el sexo, el índice de masa corporal y la duración de la rinitis por la historia clínica. Se realizaron pruebas cutáneas con alérgenos, espirometría por curva fujo-volumen, determinación de eosinóflos en la sangre y la secreción nasal, e IgE sérica total. Resultados. Se estudiaron 84 pacientes; 21 (25%; IC 95% 15,1 a 34,8) presentaron alguna variable espirométrica alterada. El índice FEV1/FVC fue el más afectado (10/84; 12% IC 95% 4,3 a 19,4). El análisis de regresión logística múltiple determinó que la alteración espirométrica se asoció con el número de eosinóflos en la sangre (OR 1,00229; IC 95% 1,00022 a 1,00436; p= 0,03) y el índice de masa corporal (OR 1,31282; IC 95% 1,08611 a 1,58685; p= 0,0049). Conclusiones. Los resultados muestran la presencia de alteraciones espirométricas en un importante porcentaje de niños y adolescentes con rinitis alérgica sin asma. El recuento absoluto de eosinóflos en la sangre y el índice de masa corporal estarían asociados a la alteración subclínica de la función pulmonar.

Introduction. There is epidemiological, functional and pathologic evidence that relates upper and lower airways, clinically known as a single respiratory tract. Patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma may present subclinical abnormal spirometry parameters. Objectives. To describe the results of the fow-volume curve in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma and analyze the possible associations between anthropometric, clinical and biochemical outcome measures with abnormal spirometry results. Population and Methods. Observational, descriptive study including children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years old with symptoms of allergic rhinitis without asthma. Age, gender, body mass index and duration of rhinitis were determined as per the subject's medical record. Allergen skin tests, fow-volume curve spirometry, determination of eosinophil count in blood and in nasal secretions, and total serum IgE were performed. Results. A total of 84 patients were studied; 21 (25%; 95% CI: 15.1-34.8) presented at least one altered spirometry outcome measure. The FEV1/FVC ratio was the most affected outcome measure (10/84; 12%; 95% CI: 4.3-19.4). The multiple logistic regression analysis determined that spirometry alterations were associated with the number of blood eosinophils (OR: 1.00229; 95% CI: 1.00022-1.00436; p= 0.03) and the body mass index (OR: 1.31282; 95% CI: 1.08611-1.58685; p= 0.0049). Conclusions. Our results showed spirometry alterations in a considerable percentage of children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis without asthma. The blood eosinophil count and the body mass index could be associated with a sub-clinical alteration of pulmonary function.

[The serum level transformation of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IgE before and after SIT in patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and the transformation of IFN-gamma, IL-4, total IgE and specific IgE before and after specific immune therapy(SIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: The subjective symptom and levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, total IgE and specific IgE were observed in 40 patients with allergic rhinitis before and after SIT. RESULT: Total effective rate in patients after SIT was 85%. There's no significant difference between the levels of specific IgE before and after SIT(P>0.05) ,while the levels of IL-4 and total IgE were significantly lower, the levels of IFN-gamma were significantly higher pre than that of post SIT. CONCLUSION: SIT is safe and effective,and can regulate the levels of IFN-gamma, IgE and IL-4. But the role of specific IgE in SIT is still unknown.

[Comparison of serum specific IgE and skin prick test in allergic rhinitis patients sensitive to dust mite].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of serum specific IgE and skin prick test in allergic rhinitis patients sensitive to dust mite and the difference between the results. METHOD: Data of 349 allergic rhinitis patients who had positive result in either Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) or Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) by serum specific IgE and skin prick test were statistically analyzed. RESULT: Grades of Skin prick test and specific IgE levels were notably relevant in these two dust mites(Der p r= 0. 568, Der f r= 0. 506, P<0. 01). There was significant difference of positive rates between serum specific IgE and skin prick test in Der p(Chi2 = 11. 605, P<0. 01)but not in Der f(Chi2 =0, P>0.05). There was no correlation between positive degree of two methods and score of clinical symptoms in allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Serum specific IgE and skin prick test were notably relevant in allergic rhinitis patients sensitive to dust mites. The positive rates of the two methods were different due to different allergen. Therefore, they could not substitute for each other. The level of serum specific IgE and positive degree of skin prick test could not reflect the degree of symptom in allergic rhinitis.

[The correlation of serum specific IgE detection and skin prick test in allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between serum specific immunoglobin E(sIgE) and skin prick test(SPT) and their differences of the positive rate. METHOD: One hundred and nine patients with allergic rhinitis were detected the serum slgE. The patients had positive symptoms and signs, positive SPT results with at least one allergen. RESULT: Specific IgE and SPT results of Dp,Df and Artemisia showed a positive correlation (r = 0.520, 0.4413, 0.764, P < 0.01). sIgE positive rates were 55.0%, 54.1% and 17.4% for Dp, Df and Artemisia respectively, whereas SPT positive rates were 68.8%,79.8% and 27.5% respectively. The difference between the positive rates of the sIgE and SPT was significant (chi2 = 27.93,18. 20,60. 60, are P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: There was a good correlation between specific IgE and SPT. SPT is more sensitive than sIgE, but SPT can not substitute for slgE,vice versa.

[Analysis of total and specific IgE in serum of carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients].

OBJECTIVE: Exploring the relationship between total and specific IgE in serum and allergen skin test of carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients. METHOD: Four hundred and-twenty-nine carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients and 243 healthy control subjects were recruited. The experimental group carried out skin tests. and pollen-specific IgE were also examined by BSA-ELISA method. Total IgE in serum of all of the subjects were determined by ELISA. RESULT: The positive rate of the total IgE level of the patients were much higher than those of the controls (66.2% vs. 15.6%, P < 0.01). No statistically significance was found between the positivity of skin test and serum specific IgE of the experimental group (chi2 = 0.758 8, P > 0.05). The difference between serum-specific IgE and total IgE was statistically significant (chi2 = 50.639, P<0.01). There was no statistical significance of specific IgE and the total IgE in serum between long term residents in Haikou and Hainan Tourisms (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Allergen skin test and carvota mitis pollen-specific IgE are two effective methods for the diagnosis of carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. The detection of total IgE in serum of carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis provides a reference value for diagnosis. The relationship between concentration of IgE in serum of the carvota mitis pollen-induced allergic rhinitis and allergen contact duration is waiting for further study.

[The role of sinomenine in treatment of allergic rhinitis mice model and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of sinomenine in treatment of allergic rhinitis mice model and its possible mechanism. METHOD: We used ovalbumin (OVA) to make allergic rhinitis model of BALB/c mice. Saline was used in the control group. When we challenged the mice with OVA intranasally, the mice in sinomenine treatment group were feed by the food containing sinomenine. Mice were then killed 24 h after the last OVA challenge. The noses of mice from each group were removed en bloc and fixed, then each section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. ELISA assay was used to measure the concentration of anti-OVA IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma. The proteins expressive level of T-bet and GATA3 were examined. RESULT: Nasal mucosa of the mice in sinomenine treatment group were not hyperplasia and without obvious infiltration of eosinophils. The concentration of anti-OVA IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the serum and T-bet and GATA3 expression levels of sinomenine treatment group were lower than those of allergic rhinitis group. CONCLUSION: The sinomenine can be used to treat allergic rhinitis mice, and the mechanism may rely on the improvements of the Th1/Th2 imbalance.

In vivo intranasal anti-CD23 treatment inhibits allergic responses in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

Although CD23-dependent transcytosis of IgE and IgE-derived immune complexes across respiratory epithelial cells is likely to play a pivotal role in the initiation and development of airway allergic inflammation, there is currently a lack of physiological support for this phenomena to suggest that the targeting of CD23 could be used as a means of therapeutic intervention. The present study was designed to detect the CD23 expression in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis (AR) murine model by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and to investigate whether intranasal anti-CD23 treatment could inhibit allergen-induced upper airway inflammation in the AR model. This is the first report to show that CD23 was constitutively expressed in murine nasal epithelial cells, and its expression was significantly up-regulated in the AR murine model. In vivo, the up-regulation of CD23 expression was correlated with increased serum IL-4 levels. Following intranasal anti-CD23 treatment, nasal symptoms were alleviated and histopathologic examination showed a significant decrease in eosinophilic infiltration. Meanwhile, ELISA analysis showed levels of serum leukotriene C4 (LTC4), eosinophil cation protein (ECP), ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE and IL-4 also significantly decreased, as were LTC4 and OVA-specific IgE in the nasal lavage fluid. Furthermore, Western blotting analysis showed that ECP expression in the nasal mucosa was down-regulated. Finally, flow cytometric analysis revealed anti-CD23 treatment inhibited Th2 cell responses. These results indicate that intranasal anti-CD23 treatment can reduce allergic responses in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

Immune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Probiotics are defined as 'living micro-organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host'. Different probiotic strains have been investigated for beneficial effects on allergic disorders. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of orally administering the probiotic Nestlé culture collection (NCC)2818 Bifidobacterium lactis strain on immune parameters and nasal symptom scores in subjects suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was a double-blinded, parallel, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted during the peak of the pollen season. Adult subjects with clinical history of SAR and positive skin prick test to grass pollen were recruited. The subjects received B. lactis NCC2818 or placebo for 8 weeks and completed symptom questionnaires every week. Whole blood was collected at baseline (V1), 4 weeks (V2) and 8 weeks (V3) to measure immune parameters. RESULTS: Concentrations of Th-2 cytokines, secreted by stimulated blood lymphocytes, were significantly lower in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group at V3 (interleukin (IL)-5, P=0.016; IL-13, P=0.005). Total nasal symptom scores were significantly lower in the second month of the study (weeks 5-8) in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group (P=0.03). Also, percentages of activated CD63 expressing basophils were significantly lower in the probiotic group at V2 (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of the probiotic NCC2818 mitigates immune parameters and allergic symptoms during seasonal exposure. These promising results warrant that B. lactis NCC2818 be investigated further in large-scale trials for management of respiratory allergy.

[The effect of aerobic exercise on serum IL-4 and TNF-alpha of patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on immune factor IL-4, TNF-alpha in patients with allergic rhinitis, which provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Thirty-two allergic rhinitis patients were selected and divided into a control group (14 people) and the experimental group (18 people). During the treatment, both groups receive conventional symptomatic treatment. Meanwhile, aerobic exercise therapy is applied to the experimental group for 40 - 60 minutes a day, 3 - 4 days a week. Serum IL-4, TNF-alpha and allergic rhinitis symptoms graded scoring were tested before and after 6 month therapy. RESULT: After six months of exercise intervention, the 11-4, and TNF-alpha levels of experimental group were significantly lower than the level of control group. The symptoms score is also significantly decreased in experimental group. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise had good therapeutic effect in patients with allergic rhinitis. The mechanism may be that aerobic exercise can reduce the level of IL-4 and TNF-alpha, which can relieve infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells.

[Correlation of serum eosinophil cationic protein with the severity of allergic rhinitis in childhood].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between the severity of childhood allergic rhinitis (AR) and the peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), total IgE (tIgE), and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) levels. METHODS: A total of 138 children with AR aged 3 to 17 (9.96 ± 3.78, x() ± s) years old were enrolled in the study. All children had persistent AR sensitized to house dust mites with a clinical history of 3 months to 12 (4.21 ± 2.72) years. The disease severity was evaluated using 10 cm-visual analogue scale (VAS), and the serum levels of ECP, tIgE and sIgE were determined using an ImmunoCAP system. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS11.0 software. RESULTS: Among 138 children with AR, the VAS scores for global severity of rhinitis and nasal obstruction symptom were 5.32 ± 2.16 and 4.78 ± 2.45, respectively. Blood eosinophil count was 0.39 [0.24; 0.63] (M[P(25); P(75)]) ×10(9)/ml. Serum levels of ECP and total IgE were 10.60 [3.26; 30.80] µg/L and (2.50 ± 0.53) log kU/L, respectively. Serum levels of allergen-sIgE against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae were 58.20[24.75; > 100] kUA/L and 54.95 [24.55; > 100] kUA/L, respectively. The VAS scores of nasal obstruction symptom, but not global severity of rhinitis, were positively related to the duration of AR (r = 0.215, P = 0.011) and the levels of serum ECP (r = 0.196, P = 0.022) in bivariate correlation analysis. There was also a significant correlation between the serum ECP level and the blood eosinophil count (r = 0.295, P = 0.000). No relationships of blood eosinophil count, and serum tIgE and sIgE levels with global severity of rhinitis as well as nasal obstruction symptom were found (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the severity of nasal obstruction was positively correlated with the duration of rhinitis and the levels of serum ECP in childhood persistent AR due to house dust mites, indicating the disease severity might be related to chronic inflammatory process.

[Association analysis between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the FCER1A gene and serum total IgE level in patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the FCER1A gene are associated with serum total IgE level in Chinese allergic rhinitis (AR) cohort. METHODS: A total of 378 patients diagnosed as AR was included in this study. Serum total IgE level was detected by UniCAP100 testing system. A total of 8 representativeness marker SNP which were in FCER1A gene region were selected according to the Beijing people database from Hapmap website and the running results of Haploview 4.1 software. The individual genotyping was performed by MassARRAY platform. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-eight individuals (227 males and 151 females) with AR were prospectively recruited. The median of the total serum IgE measurements for the study population were 150 kU/L and ranged from 6.94 kU/L to 5000 kU/L. Levene tests showed the homogeneity of variance of total IgE level among different genotypes regarding each SNP locus. ANOVA tests demonstrated that none of the selected polymorphism loci in FCER1A was associated with total IgE level. CONCLUSION: Present study failed to find an association between SNP in the FCER1A gene region and serum total IgE level in Chinese AR.

[Role of TGF-beta, IL-10 and IL-17 in allergic rhinitis patients with specific immunotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the level of TGF-beta, IL-10 and IL-17 in the allergic rhinitis(AR) patients pre- and post-specific immunotherapy (SIT). METHOD: The level of TGF-beta, IL-10 and IL-17 in serum of 48 AR patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before SIT. and the nasal symptom score (NSS) was evaluated in the first and second year after SIT. At the same time. 35 healthy persons were made as normal. RESULT: (1) The level of TGF-beta and IL-10 in serum of AR patients were lower than that of normal group (P < 0.05). The level of TGF-beta and IL-10 in AR patients taken SIT for two years was lower than that of patients with one year SIT (P < 0.05), but it was higher than that of patients pre-immunotherapy (P < 0.05). However, The level of TGF-beta and IL-10 in the group that taken SIT for two years was still lower than that of normal group (P < 0.05). (2) The level of IL-17 in serum of AR patients pre- immunotherapy was higher than that of normal group (P < 0.05). The level of IL-17 continuously declined after taking SIT, However it was higher than that of normal group two years later (P < 0.05). (3) In AR patients pre-immunotherapy and post- immunotherapy for 2 years, the level of IL-10 and TGF-beta showed negative correlation with NSS respectively, the level of IL-17 was positive related to NSS respectively (P < 0.05). But the level of IL-10, TGF-beta and IL-17 showed no correlation with NSS respectively (P > 0.05) when SIT was taken for one year. CONCLUSION: IL-10 and TGF-beta were fluctuated in AR patients taking SIT, which raised first and then dropped. but the level of IL-10 and TGF-beta was higher than that of pre- immunotherapy. However, the level of IL-17 continuously declined in the whole process. It showed that the level change of IL-10, TGF-beta and IL-17 correlate with patients' symptom only two years after SIT,so the level change of IL-10, TGF-beta and IL-17 can be used as an index for evaluating the treatment effectiveness of SIT at that time.

Evaluation of the immunity activity of glycyrrhizin in AR mice.

In this study, we evaluated effect of glycyrrhizin on immunity function in allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. The AR mice model were induced by dripping ovalbumin in physiological saline (2 mg mL⁻¹, 10 µL) into the bilateral nasal cavities using a micropipette. After the AR model was induced, mice were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control, model, lycopene 20 mg kg⁻¹ (as positive control drug) group, and glycyrrhizin 10, 20, 30 mg kg⁻¹ groups. After the sensitization day 14, lycopene (20 mg/kg BW) and glycyrrhizin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg BW) were given orally for 20 days once a day. Mice in the normal control and model groups were given saline orally once a day for 20 days. Results showed that glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly reduce blood immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitrous oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and nitrous oxide synthase (NOS) activity and enhance blood immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels in AR mice. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly enhance acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and reduce substance P (SP) level in peripheral blood and nasal mucosa of AR mice. We conclude that glycyrrhizin can improve immunity function in AR mice, suggesting a potential drug for the prevention and therapy of AR.

[Serological detection of specific IgE in allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the positive rate of allergen-specific serum IgE in local patients with allergic rhinitis, and compare the positive rate of allergen-specific serum IgE across different age groups and between sexes. METHOD: Inhalant and ingested serum allergen-specific IgE was detected in 145 patients with allergic rhinitis. Patients were grouped by age and sex, and then the positive rate was compared between the two groups. RESULT: Ninety-four out of 145 cases had positive allergen specific IgE, and the positive rate was 64.8%. There were 45 cases with single positive allergen, accounting for 47.9%. And there were 49 cases with two or multiple positive allergens, mainly inhalant allergens, accounting for 52.1%. The difference of allergen-specific IgE positive rate between men and women was not statistically significant (P>0.05); but the positive rate between adults and adolescents was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhalant allergen is a major cause of allergic rhinitis in local people. The positive rate of household dust mites and dermatophagoides was highest (87.4%). The positive rate of specific IgE was associated with age, and adolescents have higher positive rate than adults.