Abstract
In two in vitro studies, we examined the immunological (pathways of the) effects of Citrus/Cydonia comp. from, respectively, a healthy and an allergic donor; peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated out of peripheral blood and analyzed in vitro after polyclonal stimulation of T-cells. The differentiation capacity and the influence with regard to Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-5) cells were examined. Citrus/Cydonia comp. has a selective effect on the differentiation of T-cells by producing relatively more IL-10 than IL-12. By that, it also seems to have an effect on the induction of regulatory (IL-10 producing) T-cell subsets. It is in vitro capable of neutralizing (to some extent) the changes, characteristic to allergic rhinitis, with regard to the maturation, differentiation, and activity of the immune system. Thus, Citrus/Cydonia comp. can potentially restore the disturbed immune state of rhinitis patients, which essentially could be sufficient to make allergic symptoms disappear permanently.
Highlights
Allergic rhinitis is a condition characterized by sneezing, watery nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction and itching
Allergic rhinitis is divided into seasonal allergic rhinitis which is triggered by pollens and moulds, and perennial allergic rhinitis in which house dust mites and pet dander are the predominant triggers
After one day (Table 1) and four days (Table 2) of culture, the results showed that Citrus/Cydonia comp. induced T-cell proliferation directly, and activated monocytes resulting in a selective cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-12)
Summary
Allergic rhinitis is a condition characterized by sneezing, watery nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction and itching. It is an increasingly prevalent condition, in the Western world where it affects around 20% of the adult population. Seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever is a type I immediate hypersensitivity reaction mediated by specific IgE antibody to a seasonal allergen, leading to mucosal inflammation characterized by sneezing, itching, rhinorrhoea, and nasal blockage. Grass pollen is the most common cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The treatment of choice of seasonal allergic rhinitis is the symptomatic treatment with local or oral antihistamines and/or local corticosteroids. Immunotherapy, including sublingual immunomodulation therapy, is indicated in a limited subpopulation of patients [3]
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