Inverse immunological responses induced by allergic rhinitis and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Several epidemiological studies have investigated the relation between allergy and cancer with contradicting conclusions, and reports on immunological differences are scarce. By focusing on inflammation, the present study was designed to compare the immune response induced by allergic rhinitis (AR) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Blood and serum was obtained from patients with symptomatic seasonal AR, and newly detected HNSCC, as well as healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were isolated and cultured with or without the toll-like receptor ligands, Pam3CSK4, LPS, R837, and CpG. Cellular activation and cytokine release were assessed with ELISA, Luminex Multiplex Immunoassay, flow cytometry, and real-time RT-PCR. Sera from HNSCC patients showed elevated levels of innate immune cytokines, and exhibited a response profile consistent with an increased innate immune reaction. In contrast, sera and stimulated PBMC from AR patients displayed increased concentrations of T cell related cytokines, consistent with an adaptive immune response. The presented data demonstrate that AR and HNSCC induce two distinct immunological processes, indicating an inverse association between the immunological responses seen in patients with allergy and cancer of the upper airway.
Division of ENT diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Camilla Rydberg
CR
Millrud
Division of ENT diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Terese
T
Hylander
Division of ENT diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Susanna
S
Kumlien Georen
Division of ENT diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Åsa
Å
Kågedal
Department of Medicine, Translational Immunology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ola
O
Winqvist
Division of ENT diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Lars Olaf
LO
Cardell
D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007118:Immunoassay; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors