Changes in serum interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, and interleukin-12 cytokine levels in anti-histamine type 2-treated allergic rhinitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
Markedly elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) synthesis characterizes allergic diseases. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) regulate IgE synthesis. It has been shown that immunotherapy and histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists induce a clinical improvement, decrease IgE antibodies, and increase T-cell subsets, which express a suppressor function. In addition, immunotherapy brings about a reduction in the amount of IL-4 in T-cell clones of allergic individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the profile of cytokines IFNgamma and IL-4 that occurs in vivo in anti-H2-treated patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).


METHODS
Enrolled were 65 AR patients with sensitivity to a single allergen, the Parietaria, 36 of whom were randomly assigned to treatment with ranitidine at a dosage of 1 mg/kg per day intravenously for 20 days, and 29 to placebo treatment.


RESULTS
A comparison of the serum cytokine values recorded before and after anti-H2 treatment showed a significant increase in INF-gamma serum level (P = .003) and a decrease in IL-4 (P = .016). Negligible variations were found in the placebo-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
H2 antagonists probably induce their effects by enhancing the amount of IFN-gamma and by reducing IL-4 cytokines, which, respectively, induce a decrease and an increase in the IgE synthesis.
Testa
B
B
Institute of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Mesolella
C
C
Mosti
M R
MR
Mesolella
M
M
Testa
D
D
Motta
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011899:Ranitidine