Detection of concentrations of Th2/Th17 cytokines in guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate the changes of interleukin- 17（IL-17）and interleukin-4（IL-4） in nasal lavage fluid and inter－leukin-23（IL-23） mRNA in nasal associated lymphoid tissue of animal model of allergic rhinitis（AR）. Methods：Guinea pig model of AR was established. Nasal lavage fluid was collected，then IL-17 and IL-4 levels in nasal lavage fluid were measured by ELISA. Nasal associated lymphoid tissue was separated，then IL-23 mRNA expression level was detected by RT-PCR. Differences of cytokines level were compared between model group and control group. Results：Level of IL-17 in nasal cavity lavage fluid was （（4.98±1.54） pg/ml） in model group and （（12.68 ± 3.32） pg/ml） in the control group. Level of IL-17 decreased in model group than in control group with statistically significant differences（t=10.35，P=0.006）. mRNA level of IL-23 in nasal-associated lymphoid tissue was the same with IL-17. But the level of IL-4 in the nasal cavity lavage fluid（（31.20±4.25） pg/ml） was significantly higher in model group than in control group（（6.60±1.36） pg/ml），with statistically significant differences（t=17.26，P=0.001）. Conclusion：Levels of IL-17 and IL-23 decrease in AR model. But level and levels of IL-4 are significant higher in model group than in control group. Thereby we infer that there is the imbalance of Th2/Th17 cytokine network in AR，which may play an important role in allergic inflammation.