Mechanisms of allergyCytokine expression in the lower airways of nonasthmatic subjects with allergic rhinitis: Influence of natural allergen exposure☆,☆☆
Section snippets
Subject selection and evaluation
Twelve subjects 21 to 35 years of age with a history of recurrent seasonal pollen-induced rhinitis but no past or current history of asthma took part in the study. All had positive allergic skin test responses to tree, grass, and/or ragweed pollen. Six subjects were also sensitized to house dust, although they had minimal symptoms out of the pollen season. All subjects were nonsmokers who had no other respiratory conditions apart from their allergic rhinitis, and none had used anti-inflammatory
Change in airway responsiveness
We recruited 12 subjects: two did not agree to the second bronchoscopy, and bronchial biopsy specimens from two others were not adequate. The final study population consisted of 8 subjects (2 female and 6 male subjects). These subjects with rhinitis had normal pulmonary functions (Table I).
FVC, Forced vital capacity.Empty Cell Sex Age (y) FEV1 (% predicted) FVC (% predicted) 1 F 22 109 113 2 M 21 142 136 3 M 35 116 109 4 M 27 90 95 5 M 20 117 113 6 F 31 106 103 7 M 23 111 103 8 M 35 104 99 Mean ± SEM — 27 ± 2 112 ± 5 108 ± 5
Discussion
This study showed that there is an inflammatory response in the bronchial mucosa of nonasthmatic subjects with allergic rhinitis and suggests that this inflammation is increased after natural exposure to pollen. This inflammatory burst is characterized by a significant increase in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, memory cells, and eosinophils, as well as increased IL-5 expression. The number of IL-5+ cells was correlated with the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD45RO+, and EG1+ cells,
Acknowledgements
We thank Sylvie St-Martin and Doris Cantin for technical assistance and Gene Bourgeau for revising the manuscript.
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Supported by the Centre québécois d’excellence en santé respiratoire FRSQ-Glaxo-Wellcome. Dr Chakir holds an FRSQ scholarship.
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Reprint requests: Jamila Chakir, PhD, Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Laval, 2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada G1V4G5.