title: Specific immunotherapy effect on interleukin-18 and CD30 serum levels in monosensitized patients with rhinitis.
abstract: To clarify the immunologic changes associated with specific immunotherapy (SIT), we analyzed interleukin (IL)-18 and CD30 serum levels in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis before and after SIT. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the Th1 response. CD30 is a marker of Th2 lymphocytes. We selected 16 healthy donors (HDs) and 16 patients affected by allergic rhinitis, matched for sex and age. Serum IL-18 and CD30 levels were assayed by an immunoenzymatic method. IL-18 serum levels in the patients were lower than in the HDs before SIT (200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL versus 296.50 +/- 66.29 pg/mL; p < 0.05). After SIT, patients showed an increase of serum IL-18 levels (288.69 +/- 146.69 pg/mL versus 200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL; p < 0.05). On the contrary, serum CD30 levels were higher in patients before SIT with respect to HDs (14.78 +/- 8.30 IU/mL versus < 1 IU/mL; p < 0.05). SIT caused a decrease of serum CD30 levels in patients who were allergic (5.95 +/- 5.70 IU/mL versus 14.78 +/- 8.30 IU/mL; p < 0.05). In conclusion, in this study we showed for the first time the shift of IL-18 and CD30 production after SIT.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Medicine, Section of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, S. Charles Hospital, Bordighera, IM, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: Rosario A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Merendino
authors.forename: Paolo L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
authors.forename: Carmelo D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.forename: Sabastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007167:Immunotherapy; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen