ObjectiveTo investigate the common inhalant allergens causing allergic rhinitis in underage patients, and provide references for clinical prevention of allergic rhinitis. MethodsUnderage patients with allergic rhinitis admitted to our hospital between January 2010 and June 2013 were screened and skin prick test (SPT) was applied to investigate the response intensity to 22 kinds of common inhalant allergens and analyze the correlation of the positive rates and grades of allergens with age and sex. ResultsA total of 402 patients were included, and 77.6% (312/402) of them reported positive reaction of SPT; and the top five allergens were dust mites (242/402, 60.2%), house dust (235/402, 58.5%), housefly (142/402, 35.3%), spring pollen Ⅲ (133/402, 33.1%) and mulberry silk (121/402, 30.1%), respectively. Compared with patients whose age was younger than 5 years, both the positive rates and grades of SPT were significantly higher in patients above 5 years old. Additionally, the higher positive rates and grades of SPT were also observed much more in male patients than female patients. ConclusionThe most common inhalant allergens causing allergic rhinitis in underage patients are dust mites and house dust. And the SPT response intensity of inhalant allergens can be affected by age and gender.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of interleukin-25 (IL-25) and its receptor during allergen challenge test in allergic asthmatics as well as its underlining mechanism.MethodsFifteen allergic asthmatic patients with dual response in allergen challenge test were enrolled and blood samples were collected before and after challenge test. The expression levels of IL-25 receptor on the surface of eosinophils, plasma and intracellular IL-25 levels were measured by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Besides, the function of eosinophils from these patients was evaluated through the expression of type 2 cytokines, degranulation and chemotaxis after stimulation with IL-25.ResultsUpon allergen challenge, the expression of IL-17RB on the surface of eosinophils were increased from (7 426±2 824)/106 white blood cells to (19 446±5 593)/106 white blood cells (P<0.001). The expression of IL-17RA/RB on eosinophils were significantly increased from (4 508±1 360)/106 white blood cells to (9 025±3 166)/106 white blood cells (P<0.001). The plasma level of IL-25 increased from (650±45) pg/ml to (851±43) pg/ml (7 hours after allergen challenge) and (813±56) pg/ml (24 hours after allergen challenge) (P<0.001). The intracellular IL-25 expression of eosinophils was also upregulated from (10 398±1 909)/106 white blood cells to (147 684±46 222)/106 white blood cells (P<0.05). In vitro study, IL-25 (1 ng/ml) stimulated eosinophils for 2 hours promoted its expression of peroxidase [(12.5±4.2) ng/ml compared to control (1.26±0.4) ng/ml, P<0.05). The intracellular expression of IL-5 and IL-13 in eosinophils were also increased after stimulated by IL-25. IL-25 (1 pg/ml) stimulation compared to control could increase eosinophil migration in eotaxin [(36±3) vs. (69±5), P<0.05).ConclusionIL-25 and its receptor play a critical role in eosinophilic aggregation, activation and mobilization during allergic inflammation in allergic asthmatics.