title: RT-PCR cytokine study in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory reaction of the nasal mucosa, in consequence of an IgE mediated hypersensitive reaction to inhaling allergens, involving different mediators and cytokine cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transcriptions for IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and IFN-gama, particularly important in the nasal allergy process, especially IL-4 and IL-5. For this study we decided to evaluate atopic patients who were free from allergic crises, with the purpose of knowing the cytokine expressions during this period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Another prospective and transversal study was carried out, selecting 30 patients, 13 of these patients were pauci-symptomatic and 17 were non atopic. The groups were selected by means of a medical interview, an otolaryngologic clinical exam and allergy skin tests - Prick Test. The cytokines were investigated in fragments of the nasal mucosa, using RT-PCR - chosen because it has good reproducibility and specificity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-5, IL-8, IFN-gama cytokine values were kept homogeneous in relation to the control group. Only IL-4 presented significant statistic differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic patients with allergic rhinitis presented with normalization of cytokine expression in the nasal mucosa, with exception of IL-4.
authors.affiliation: FEAD Centro de Gestão Empreendedora.
authors.forename: Tarcimara Moreira da
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Roberto Eustáquio Santos
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Evaldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Helena Maria Gonçalves
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Ricardo Nascimento
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Flávio Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines