title: The release of IL-31 and IL-13 after nasal allergen challenge and their relation to nasal symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IL-31, a recently discovered member of the gp130/IL-6 cytokine family, is mainly expressed by human mast cells and T helper type 2 cells. IL-31 is a key trigger of atopic dermatitis. Recent studies also suggest a role of IL-31 in the pathogenesis of other allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis. In the present study we studied the release of IL-31 and IL-13 in allergen-challenged allergic rhinitis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven seasonal allergic volunteers underwent unilateral nasal provocation with allergen (and a control challenge) with the disc method out of the allergy season. Nasal symptom scores (rhinorrhea, itching, sneezing, obstruction) and bilateral nasal secretions were quantified before and after allergen provocation. IL-13 and IL-31 in nasal secretions and serum were measured by electrochemiluminescent immunoassay or ELISA, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nasal allergen challenge induced the typical clinical symptoms and physiological changes. IL-31 and IL-13 in nasal secretions increased in four and five, respectively, volunteers at 5 h after allergen but not after control challenge. We observed correlation trends between nasal IL-31 concentrations and IL-13 concentrations (r = 0.9, p = 0.002), and IL-31 contents and symptom scores (r = 0.9, p = 0.013) 5 h after allergen provocation. No IL-31 could be detected contralaterally or systemically in the sera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed local upregulation of IL-31 mainly during the late phase reaction after nasal allergen challenge suggests a role of IL-31 in allergic rhinitis. In which way IL-31 modulates the inflammatory reaction and type 2 responses in allergic rhinitis remains to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany. RalfB2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Matthaeus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabaszowski
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stenin
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaertner-Akerboom
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scheckenbach
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiltfang
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagenmann