Effect of seasonal allergen exposure on mucosal IL-16 and CD4+ cells in patients with allergic rhinitis

Allergy. 2001 Sep;56(9):871-7.

Abstract

Background: CD4+ T cells constitute a major source of cytokines in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis. Interleukin (IL)-16 selectively recruits CD4+ cells.

Methods: We evaluated the effect of natural allergen exposure during a grass-pollen season on IL-16 expression and number of CD4+ cells in nasal mucosa. Patients with allergic rhinitis (n=16) were treated with either a nasal glucocorticoid beclomethasone (BDP; 400 microg/day) or placebo, and gave nasal biopsies prior to and during the grass-pollen season. The evaluated markers in allergic rhinitis patients were also compared to those in healthy control subjects (n=5).

Results: Prior to the pollen season, the expression of IL-16, but not the number of CD4+ cells, was significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis than in healthy control subjects. The grass-pollen season further increased IL-16 expression and also increased the number of CD4+ cells in placebo-treated, but not in BDP-treated, allergic rhinitis patients. The pollen-season-induced change in IL-16 expression and in CD4+ cells was significantly more pronounced in placebo- than in BDP-treated patients. There was a significant correlation between the change in IL-16 expression and the number of CD4+ cells.

Conclusions: These data suggest that local upregulation of IL-16 expression contributes to the inflammation observed in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Hypothetically, inhibition of IL-16 expression can be one of several mechanisms by which nasal glucocorticoids achieve their anti-inflammatory effect in allergic rhinitis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Allergens / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Beclomethasone / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Interleukin-16 / analysis
  • Interleukin-16 / physiology
  • Male
  • Nasal Mucosa / chemistry*
  • Nasal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Nasal Mucosa / pathology
  • Poaceae / adverse effects*
  • Pollen / adverse effects*
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / chemically induced*
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / drug therapy
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / immunology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Tests

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Interleukin-16
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Beclomethasone