title: Effect of sublingual immunotherapy on level of cytokines in PBMCs of patients with allergic asthma.
abstract: This study examined the possible mechanism of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma. Forty asthma patients allergic to dust mite were enrolled. They received SLIT with dermatophagoides farinae (Der. f) drops for one year. Thirty healthy subjects served as controls. The levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined in allergic asthma patients before and after the SLIT as well as the healthy subjects. The results showed that the level of IL-4 was substantially increased and that of IFN-γ remarkably decreased in the patients before the SLIT as compared with those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). After the SLIT, the level of IL-4 was significantly reduced and that of IFN-γ elevated in these allergic asthma patients. It was concluded that sublingual immunotherapy is effective for patients with allergic asthma. And it may work by regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 through changing the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in PBMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. wangzhxl@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongxi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma