Intracellular production of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma by peripheral blood CD3+ cells in intermittent allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Allergic inflammation is mainly driven by type 2 T helper cells. The aim was to assess the changes in production of type 1 and 2 cytokines by CD3+ T cells dependent on natural exposure to allergens in subjects with intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) and in non-atopic subjects.


METHODS
A total of 13 patients with IAR and 13 healthy non-atopics were recruited into the study. 11 patients with IAR were examined during the grass pollen season and 11 patients outside the season, 9 of them were assessed on both occasions.


METHODS
A flow cytometric assessment of intracellular expression of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma by CD3+ cells was performed. For statistical analysis non-parametric tests were used.


RESULTS
A tendency to decreased production of IL-4 outside the season was observed (6.94% [3.42-13.33] in season vs. 2.06% [0.7-3.6] out of season). The production of IL-4 was higher in the rhinitic group in the season than in the control group (1.93% [1.07-4.97], p=0.0034) and production of IL-2 was higher both in and outside the season (9.1% [3.94-15.09] and 10.0% [4.79-25.35] vs. 3.64% (2.64-5.03), p=0.037 and 0.045, respectively). IL-4/IL-2 and IL-4/IFN-gamma ratios were higher in the IAR group in the season than outside the season.


CONCLUSIONS
A tendency towards a switch from a predominant type 2 response during natural allergen exposure to its suppression outside the season was found, together with a stable type 1 response.
Glück
J
J
Chair and Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Silesian University School of Medicine, ul. 3 Maja 13-15, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland. joagluck@mp.pl
Rogala
B
B
Mazur
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D000485:Allergens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma