Serum Transforming Growth Factor-β Levels Depend on Allergen Exposure in Allergic Rhinitis

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 152; no. 1; pp. 66 - 70
• Main Authors: Ciprandi, Giorgio, De Amici, Mara, Tosca, Mariangela, Marseglia, Gianluigi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Administration, Sublingual; Adult; Allergens - immunology; Desensitization, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Male; Parietaria - immunology; Poaceae - immunology; Pollen - immunology; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - etiology; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - immunology; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - physiopathology; Short Communication; Transforming Growth Factor beta - blood; Pollen season; Sublingual immunotherapy; Transforming growth factor-β; Allergic rhinitis
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000260085

Background:Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by inflammation sustained by dysregulated immune response. T-regulatory cells are involved in AR pathogenesis, mainly producing IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Indeed, there is a functional and allergen-specific defect of T-regulatory cells in AR. However, there are no data about the influence of allergen exposure on TGF-β serum levels. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate TGF-β serum levels in patients with seasonal AR. Patients were evaluated either outside the pollen season and after 1 preseasonal sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) course (38 subjects) or during the pollen season (57 subjects). Methods:All patients were allergic to Parietaria and/or grasses alone. TGF-β was measured by a commercially available kit. Symptoms, drug use and eosinophils were evaluated.Serum allergen-specific IgG and IgA levels were also measured by the ELISA method. Results:TGF-β serum levels were significantly lower in patients evaluated outside the pollen season in comparison with the other 2 situations. SLIT induced the significantly highest TGF-β serum levels. There was a significant negative relationship between TGF-β and eosinophils in patients after SLIT. IgG and IgA levels were higher in SLIT-treated patients. Conclusion: This preliminary study provides evidence that TGF-β serum levels are significantly dependent on allergen exposure.