title: TGF-beta and IL-17 serum levels and specific immunotherapy.
abstract: Two new T cell subsets may be involved in allergic rhinitis (AR) pathogenesis: Th17 and T regulatory cells, mainly producing IL-17 and TGF-beta respectively. Successful Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) induces relevant immunological changes, thus the aim of this study was to evaluate serum IL-17 and TGF-beta levels in AR patients treated with SLIT for 2 years. Patients' blood samples were collected before initiating SLIT (baseline), three months after the end of the first pre-seasonal SLIT course, and at the end of the second pre-seasonal course. IL-17 was detectable only in the most severe allergic patients. SLIT significantly induced an increase in serum TGF-beta levels. There was moreover a significant relationship between TGF-beta and symptom severity and drug use at the end of the study. Therefore, this study provides clinically relevant evidence that two pre-seasonal SLIT courses may significantly affect serum TGF-beta levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@libero.it
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Amici
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D020381:Interleukin-17; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta