RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by Th2-polarized immune response. Soluble HLA (sHLA) molecules play an immunomodulatory activity. So far, however, no study investigated them in AR. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels in AR patients with pollen allergy and in a group of healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-nine AR patients were enrolled. A group of healthy nonallergic subjects was considered as control. sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels were determined by immunoenzymatic method. The study was conducted during the winter, such as outside the pollen season. RESULTS: Allergic patients had significantly higher levels of both sHLA-G (P < 0.0001) and sHLA-A,-B,-C (P = 0.011) molecules than normal controls. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between these two soluble molecules (r = 0.69) in allergic patients. CONCLUSION: The present study provides the first evidence that both sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels are significantly increased in AR patients with pollen allergy.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos HLA/sangre , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/sangre , Rinitis Alérgica Perenne/inmunología , Rinitis Alérgica Estacional/inmunología , Adulto , Femenino , Antígenos HLA/biosíntesis , Antígenos HLA-A/biosíntesis , Antígenos HLA-A/sangre , Antígenos HLA-B/biosíntesis , Antígenos HLA-B/sangre , Antígenos HLA-C/biosíntesis , Antígenos HLA-C/sangre , Antígenos HLA-G , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/biosíntesis , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Polen/inmunología , Rinitis Alérgica Perenne/sangre , Rinitis Alérgica Estacional/sangre , Solubilidad , Regulación hacia Arriba/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by a T-helper (Th)-2 (Th2) polarized immune response. Soluble human leukocyte antigen (sHLA) molecules play an immunomodulatory role. Specific immunotherapy is the only causal treatment for AR and is able to shift the immune response to Th1 polarization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in AR patients with pollen allergy before and after a preseasonal course of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). A total of 40 AR patients with pollen allergy were enrolled and given a course of preseasonal SLIT for 3 months. Serum sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay, and cell production of IFN-gamma was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent spot assay at baseline and 3 months after the end of the SLIT course. There was a significant relationship between sHLA-G serum level change and IFN-gamma increase as well as between sHLA-A,-B,-C level change and IFN-gamma increase after SLIT. The present study provides the first published evidence that the reduction of sHLA molecules serum levels and the increased IFN-gamma production after SLIT in AR patients with pollen allergy are significantly related phenomena.