title: Transforming growth factor beta and platelets in allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the TGF-? concentration in plasma and platelets in patients with allergic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 36 adult females, 6 with clinical and laboratory diagnoses of allergic rhinitis, 18 with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis (rhino-sinusitis) and 12 clinically healthy controls. The samples were obtained from venous blood. TGF-? was measured in plasma and in the supernatant fluid of platelets by a solid phase Enzymo-immun assay, and IL-11 was quantified using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both patient groups platelet numbers (106/mL) were greater than in controls. Plasma concentration (pg/ml) of TGF-? in the allergic rhinitis group (276 ± 16) was lower than in control group (932 ± 99) (p <0.005), whereas in patients with rhino-sinusitis was higher (2606 ± 612) (p <0.005). In both patients groups, the intra-platelet TGF-? concentration was smaller than in control, but only significant (p <0.005), in allergic rhinitis patients. However, in all groups, an inverse correlation (p <0.0001) was found between the platelet number and intraplatelet TGF-? levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inverse correlation between intra-platelet TGF-? and circulating platelets number found in all individuals studied suggests that platelets do not alter the regulating mechanism of TGF-? production in allergy or infection.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Inmunología y Alergia, Hospital General de México.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.forename: Martha P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rico
authors.forename: Gloria B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Vega
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012852:Sinusitis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta