title: IL-18 levels in nasal lavage after inhalatory challenge test with flour in bakers diagnosed with occupational asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors discuss the outcomes of a study on IL-18 concentration in nasal washings after the inhalatory challenge test with flour allergens (ICHT-F) in bakers with flour-induced occupational airway allergy (OAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured IL-18 concentration using ELISA kit and assessed morphological changes in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) before, and 4 h and 24 h after ICHT-F in three groups of subjects: Group A - 9 patients with diagnosed OAA (occupational asthma and rhinitis), Group B - 10 patients with atopic asthma and rhinitis, and Group C - 9 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group A, significant differences in the basophil proportion in NLF were noted only 24 h after ICHT-F. Both the basophil proportion and total eosinophil count were higher in Group A than in Group C at this time-point. Group A also showed a statistically significant increase in IL-18 levels 4 h after the challenge. A significant relationship was noted between the proportion of basophils 4 h after ICHT-F and IL-18 level at 24 h after the test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study demonstrating an increased expression of IL-18 in nasal washings of subjects diagnosed with OAA to flour allergens. The observed higher concentrations of IL-18 in nasal washings after ICHT as well as the increase in the proportion of basophils provide evidence for the important role of IL-18 in persistent allergic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Diseases, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. annakrak@imp.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krakowiak
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walusiak
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wittczak
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pałczyński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D020382:Interleukin-18