Allergy to Der p 23 influences the cytokine profile in patients with allergic asthma – a preliminary study

Abstract

Objective Der p 23 is a major allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which could contribute to allergic asthma. The study compared the cytokine profile (Il-1beta, Il-4, Il-5, Il-6, Il-13, Il-17, TNF-alpha) in patients with allergic asthma, with confirmed allergy to D. pteronyssinus and with the presence or absence of allergy to Der p 23. Methods Among 173 included patients, the following combinations were analyzed: profile A – Der p 1 (+), Der p 2 (+), and Der p 23 (−) observed in 38 (22%) patients; profile B – Der p 1 (+), Der p 2 (+), and Der p 23 (+) in 87 (50.3%) patients; and profile C – Der p 1 (−), Der p 2 (−), and Der p 23 (+) in 15 (8.7%) patients. Results The mean concentration of Il-1beta was significantly lower in profile A than in profiles B and C: 10.51 ± 5.22 (pg/ml) vs. 21.92 ± 11.34 vs. 23.1 ± 8.56 (A vs. B for p = 0.03 and A vs. C for p = 0.019). Similar trends were observed for Il-5: 38.5 ± 10.45 (pg/ml) vs. 94.8 ± 54.11 vs. 103.61 ± 34.9 (A vs. B for p = 0.008 and A vs. C for p = 0.001). Conclusion The higher Il-1 and Il-5 activities observed in profiles B and C with Der p 23 (+) could be responsible for the more effective acceleration of allergic inflammation than in profile A with Der p 23.