The profile of cytokines in adolescents with pollinoses

Abstract

The formation of hay fever as a form of allergic pathology in children is determined by the sensitization of the growing organism to pollen allergens with the production of specific IgE and significant influence of atopy. Comprehensively there were examined 45 adolescents of 10-17 years, suffering from hay fever. Serum cytokine content was determined by ELISA. Adolescents suffering from hay fever, in the remission of the disease were established to show an increase of production IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, accompanied by an increase in total serum IgE level. It indicates to the prevalence of Th2-immune response and participation of atopy in their development. The elevation of the IL-12 serum level in adolescents suffering from hay fever, more pronounced in patients with chronic inflammatory pathology of the upper respiratory tract, is possibly aimed at the reinforcement of the synthesis of IFN-a and suppression of the excessive Th2- immune response. The development of Th1/Th2 imbalance with predominance of Th2 immune response and changes in the cytokine status in examined adolescents are the determining factors for the occurrence of diseases due to pollen sensitization in them. The study of the assembly of various cytokines in pollenoses permits to destine about the functional activity of various cells of the immune system, the severity of the allergic process, the degree of activation of Th2 and Th1 lymphocytes, which should be considered in the treatment of these forms of allergic diseases in children.