Serum Level of Interleukin‐4 in Patients with Perennial Allergic Rhinitis During Allergen‐Specific Immunotherapy

Abstract

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) may play a central role in the IgE synthesis system, the development of Th-2-like cells, and co-ordination as well as the persistence of airway inflammatory process in allergic disorders. Therefore, IL-4 plays a key role in airway allergic disorders. This study aimed at investigating the serum concentrations of IL-4 in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, with special reference to the possible changes and the clinical relevance following long-term immunotherapy. The study has demonstrated that the serum level of IL-4 in allergic rhinitis patients before immunotherapy is significantly higher than that in non-atopic individuals. However, the serum IL-4 level in allergic rhinitis patients did not decrease following anti-allergic medications but significantly decreased following immunotherapy. The percentage decrease in IL-4 was correlated significantly with the percentage decrease in specific IgE antibodies following long-term immunotherapy. Immunotherapy also significantly decreased specific IgE anti-bodies, but this reduction in specific IgE antibodies was not significantly correlated with the clinical improvement. In contrast, the percentage decrease in serum IL-4 was significantly correlated with the percentage decrease in symptomatic scores. The authors interpret these data to mean that immunotherapy alters T-cell cytokine profiles in the long-term, and a decline of IL-4 following immunotherapy could modulate not only production of specific IgE antibodies but also inflammatory cellular events, leading to symptomatic relief in allergic rhinitis.

A novel approach in allergen-specific immunotherapy: Combination of sublingual and subcutaneous routes

“…16,17 Whereas earlier studies emphasized a switch from T H 2 to T H 1 cells in peripheral blood, 18,19 more recent studies on grass pollen immunotherapy have shown increased expression of mucosal and peripheral T-cell IL-10 and TGF-b. 20,21 The induction of peripheral T-cell tolerance represents an essential step in SIT and is initiated by the increased autocrine action of allergenspecific regulatory T cells.…”

Ten‐Year Follow‐Up Study of Allergen‐Specific Immunoglobulin E and Immunoglobulin G4, Soluble Interleukin‐2 Receptor, Interleukin‐4, Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule‐1 and Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule‐1 in Serum of Patients on Immunotherapy for Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

“…The clinical evaluation of immunotherapy based upon our criteria using daily symptom diary cards was performed at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 years after the initiation of immunotherapy. The details of the method employed in this study have been described elsewhere [5,10,11]. In brief, all the patients of the immunotherapy group were asked to complete daily symptom diary cards in the 14 days before the assessment of nasal symptom scores.…”

“…Interleukin-4 was measured with a chemiluminescent ELISA, and the justification of the method employed in this study has been described elsewhere [10,17]. In brief, microtitre plates were coated with mouse monoclonal anti-human IL-4 antibody (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and after incubation with serum samples or purified recombinant IL-4 (R & D Systems) plates were developed with biotinylated mouse anti-human IL-4 antibody (Pharmingen, San Diego, CA, USA) followed by avidine-alkaline phosphatase conjugate (Tago, Camarillo, CA, USA).…”

“…Recent in-vitro as well as in-vivo evidence has suggested that immunotherapy alters T-cell cytokine profiles, resulting in turning off the allergic inflammatory events [9]. Indeed, our preliminary studies have suggested that immunotherapy could affect serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) [10], soluble IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) [11] and soluble intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) [12] in patients with allergic rhinitis. Thus, time-course changes in IL-4, soluble IL-2R and soluble adhesion molecules in serum of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were also studied during 10 years of immunotherapy, with special reference to the clinical efficacy.…”

Preliminary Clinical Effect Evaluation of Resveratrol in Adults with Allergic Rhinitis

“…IgE, IL-4, the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and eosinophils play an essential role in AR development [21][22][23][24]. As resveratrol reduced AR symptoms, we further compared the cytokine and eosinophil levels in patients' peripheral blood.…”