Different levels in rantes, IL-5 and TNF-á between the nasal polyps of adolescents with allergic, local allergic and non-allergic rhinitis

Background: Nasal polyps are the result of chronic inflammation of the upper airways that develops in the ethmoidal and middle turbinate area. They are characterized by the presence of a number of inflammatory cells resulting from infiltration of eosinophils, Th2 cells, mast cells, and macrophages. Nasal mucosal immune-reactivity may occur in varying degrees accompanying polyps in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. RANTES is locally produced within the nasal microenvironment of polyps and may be responsible for the eosinophil recruitment. Tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF-α) along with Th2 cytokines such as interleukin-5 (IL-5) may stimulate nasal polyp fibroblasts to produce inflammatory mediators. We evaluated the differences in levels of RANTES, IL-5, and TNF-α in nasal polyps from adolescents with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Our goal was to figure out the pathogenesis of allergic, local allergic and non-allergic rhinitis by evaluate different levels in RANTES, IL-5, and TNF-α between the nasal polyps and serum from them.

 Methods: We recruited total 38 adolescents with allergic rhinitis (AR) (n=15, mean age: 17.4±4.2 yrs old), local allergic rhinitis (LAR) (n=9, mean age: 15.9±5.5 yrs old), and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) (n=14, mean age: 15.6±2.9 yrs old) undergoing polypectomy. Atopic status was defined as presenting a sufficiently high total IgE serum concentration (IgE > 200 IU/mL) and a positive skin prick test or serum allergen test such as MAST (Green cross MS, Seoul, Korea) or ImmunoCAP system (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Immunoassays were performed using polyp tissue homogenates and sera to quantify the levels of RANTES, TNF-α, and IL-5, and with sera to assess total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) produced by them.

 Results: RANTES levels were higher in LAR than in NAR, but there was no significant difference between AR and NAR. IL-5 and TNF-α levels were higher in AR and LAR than in NAR but IFN-γ levels did not differ. There was significantly correlated between concentration of RANTES between polyp tissue homogenates and serum (R2 =0.51, P<0.05, n=38). IL-5, TNF-α, and IFN-γ also demonstrated positive correlation between concentration of that between polyp tissue homogenates and serum, however, there were not significant.

 Conclusions: RANTES levels were higher in polyp tissue homogenates from LAR than in those from NAR. Therefore, RANTES probably involves in the pathogenesis of LAR. IL-5 and TNF-α levels were higher in polyp tissue homogenates and sera from AR and LAR than in those from NAR. So IL-5 and TNF-α probably play important role in the pathogenesis of AR and LAR.