The expression analysis of IL-6, IL-18, IL-21, IL-23, and TGF-β mRNA in the nasal mucosa of patients with Allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND

The profile of inflammatory and suppressing cytokines is important to contribute to the disruption of TH1/TH2 balance in Allergic rhinitis (AR).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the expression levels of IL-6, IL-18, IL-21, IL-23, and TGF-β in nasal biopsies in AR patients and evaluate its correlation with the severity of AR.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study included 30 patients with mild persistent allergic rhinitis (MPAR), patients with moderate-to-severe (M/S) PAR, and 30 healthy individuals. The biopsies of nasal inferior turbinate mucosa were collected from each participant. The expression of IL-6, IL-18, IL-21, IL-23, and TGF-β was evaluated by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The degree of eosinophil infiltration into the nasal mucosa, blood eosinophils, and total serum IgE level were also measured.

RESULT

The expression of IL-6, IL-18, and IL-23 in patients with AR significantly increased compared to the control group. Conversely, the gene expression of the TGF-β declined in the M/S PAR group rather than the AR- group. The data did not show a significant difference in the expression of the IL-21 gene between AR+ and AR- groups.

CONCLUSION

We suggested that inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-18, and IL-23 may be involved in the severity of AR and associated with markers of inflammation.