Induction of interleukin 10 by sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mites: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Subcutaneous specific immunotherapy has been demonstrated to be capable of inducing T-cell regulatory response. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) plays a crucial role in inducing allergen-specific tolerance; however, no previous studies have examined IL-10 production after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate T-cell proliferation and IL-10 production in patients successfully treated with SLIT for house dust mites (HDMs).


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from patients after at least 3 years of successful HDM SLIT and from matched untreated allergic patients and healthy control subjects. After 3 and 6 days of in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), Candida albicans, and Dermatophagoides farinae, proliferation and production of IL-10 were measured.


RESULTS
Patients treated with SLIT showed a significant reduction of proliferation induced by C albicans compared with untreated atopic patients (P < .001), but a significant reduction was also demonstrated in healthy controls compared with untreated atopic patients (P < .001). Patients treated with SLIT also showed a significant increase of IL-10 production after Candida and PHA stimuli compared with patients with untreated rhinitis (P < .001 for both). Patients with untreated rhinitis did not produce IL-10.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study confirms reduced T-cell proliferation and preliminarily provides the first evidence, to our knowledge, of peripheral IL-10 production in allergic patients successfully treated with HDM SLIT.
Ciprandi
Giorgio
G
Dipartimento Regionale Testa-Collo, Azienda Ospedale Università San Martino, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it
Fenoglio
Daniela
D
Cirillo
Ignazio
I
Vizzaccaro
Andrea
A
Ferrera
Alessandra
A
Tosca
Maria Angela
MA
Puppo
Francesco
F
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D016753:Interleukin-10