Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that interleukin (IL)-17 is important in neutrophil migration and function. A mouse-model study showed that allergen inhalation enhanced IL-17 expression and recruitment of neutrophils into inflammed airways. But the role of IL-17 in patients with allergic airway diseases is unknown.
Aim: To investigate influence of bronchial allergen challenge (BAC) with D. pteronyssinus (DP) on IL-17 expression and peripheral blood (PB) neutrophils chemotaxis in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AA).
Methods: 8 AR, 4 AA patients and 6 healthy individuals (HI) were investigated. All patients had positive skin prick tests to DP and underwent BAC with standardized extracts of DP. Serum IL-17 concentration was analyzed by ELISA. Neutrophils were isolated from PB and chemotaxis was investigated using different concentrations of IL-17 measured by FACSCalibur cytometer 24 h before, 7 h and 24 h after BAC.
Results: Serum IL-17 levels and PB neutrophils chemotaxis were significantly higher in AR and AA compared to the HI before and after BAC (figure). Serum IL-17 levels significantly correlated with the PB neutrophils chemotaxis (r=0.67, p=0.043).
Conclusion: IL-17 levels and PB neutrophil chemotaxis were increased in allergic patients challenged with DP. IL-17 is significant regulating neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with AR and AA.
- © 2011 ERS