Abstract
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by a Th2 polarized immune response, and specific immunotherapy modifies this arrangement, restoring a physiologic Th1 profile. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is widely prescribed. The aim of the study is to evaluate two different methods for assessing IFN-γ, namely ELISPOT and ELISA, before and after a pre-seasonal SLIT course as marker for Th1 response. Thirty-eight AR patients with pollen allergy assumed pre-seasonal SLIT for 3 months. Patients' blood samples for assessing IFN-γ serum levels were collected before initiating SLIT (baseline - T0), after 3 months pre-seasonal SLIT course (T1), and three months after completion of SLIT (T2). IFN-γ-specific producing cells, after allergen stimulation, were assessed by cytokine ELISPOT at the same time points. IFN-γ-specific producing cells significantly increased after SLIT both at T1 and T2 (p=0.0002). On the contrary, ELISA assessment did not reveal an increase in IFN-γ serum levels at any time point. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that ELISA assessment of serum IFN-γ is not suitable for identifying an early response.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 31-35 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | European Journal of Inflammation |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2010 |
Keywords
- Allergen
- Allergic rhinitis
- ELISA
- ELISPOT
- IFN-γ
- Pollens
- Sublingual immunotherapy
- Th1 cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Immunology and Allergy