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. 2015 Sep 22;11(1):26.
doi: 10.1186/s13223-015-0093-x. eCollection 2015.

Cytokine profiles in nasal fluid of patients with seasonal or persistent allergic rhinitis

Katrin König  1 , Christine Klemens  1 , Katharina Eder  1 , Marion San Nicoló  1 , Sven Becker  2 , Matthias F Kramer  1 , Moritz Gröger  1
Affiliations

Cytokine profiles in nasal fluid of patients with seasonal or persistent allergic rhinitis

Katrin König et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. .

Abstract

Background: New therapeutic approaches with biologic agents such as anti-cytokine antibodies are currently on trial for the treatment of asthma, rhinosinusitis or allergic diseases necessitating patient selection by biomarkers. Allergic rhinitis (AR), affecting about 20 % of the Canadian population, is an inflammatory disease characterised by a disequilibrium of T-lymphocytes and tissue eosinophilia. Aim of the present study was to describe distinct cytokine patterns in nasal secretion between seasonal and perennial AR (SAR/PAR), and healthy controls by comparing cytokines regulating T-cells or stimulating inflammatory cells, and chemokines.

Methods: Nasal secretions of 44 participants suffering from SAR, 45 participants with PAR and 48 healthy controls were gained using the cotton wool method, and analysed for IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, GM-CSF, G-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, eotaxin, and RANTES by Bio-Plex Cytokine Assay as well as for ECP and tryptase by UniCAP-FEIA.

Results: Participants with SAR or PAR presented elevated levels of tryptase, ECP, MCP-1, and MIP-1β, while values of GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-1β, and IL-6 did not differ from the controls. Increased levels of IL-5, eotaxin, MIP-1α, and IL-17 and decreased levels of IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-10 were found in SAR only. RANTES was elevated in SAR in comparison to PAR. Interestingly, we found reduced levels of IL-4 in PAR and of IL-13 in SAR.

Conclusions: Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines were seen in both disease entities. They were, however, more pronounced in SAR, indicating a higher degree of inflammation. This study suggests a downregulation of TH1 and Treg-lymphocytes and an upregulation of TH17 in SAR. Moreover, the results display a prominent role of eosinophils and mast cells in AR. The observed distinct cytokine profiles in nasal secretion may prove useful as a diagnostic tool helping to match patients to antibody therapies.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Chemokines; Cytokines; Interleukins; Mediators; Nasal secretion.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plots of the levels of IL-4 (a dark grey) and IL-13 (b light grey) in nasal secretion are shown. IL-4 is significantly decreased in PAR compared to the controls as well as the SAR group. IL-13 is significantly decreased in SAR compared to both the controls and PAR. ***p < 0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plots of the levels of IFN-γ (a dark grey) and IL-12 (b light grey) in nasal secretion are shown. IFN-γ is significantly decreased in SAR compared to the controls or PAR. IL-12 is significantly decreased in SAR compared to the controls as well as to PAR. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Levels IL-10 in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plot of IL-10 levels in nasal secretion is shown. IL-10 is significantly decreased in SAR compared to the controls as well as to PAR. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Levels IL-17 in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plot of IL-17 levels in nasal secretion is shown. IL-17 is significantly increased in SAR compared to both the controls and PAR. ***p < 0.001
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Levels of ECP and tryptase in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plots of the levels of ECP (a dark grey) and tryptase (b light grey) in nasal secretion are shown. ECP is significantly elevated in SAR and PAR compared to controls. Tryptase is significantly elevated in SAR and PAR compared to controls. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Levels of MIP-1β in nasal fluid in controls, SAR and PAR: box plot of MIP-1β levels in nasal secretion. MIP-1β is significantly elevated in SAR as well as in PAR compared to controls. *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001
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