Serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor levels in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

It is known that several inflammatory cells and cytokines play a role in al lergic inflammation. Furthermore, there are seasonal changes in several med iators responsible for allergic inflammation. The aim:of this Study was to determine seasonal changes in serum concentrations Sf soluble tumor necrosi s factor receptors (sTNFRs) and the relationship with disease activity and other inflammation markers such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in pat ients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. serum levels of sTNFRI and sTNFRII w ere measured,before and during the pollen season in 18 patients with season al allergic rhinitis and in 17 healthy controls by using commercially avail able enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The serum levels of sT NFRI, sTNFRII, IgE, and ECP were significantly higher in patients than thos e in controls before and during season. sTNFRI, sTNFRII, and IgE levels wer e higher before season, whereas ECP levels were higher during season. We su ggest that sTNFRs might play, regulatory roles even in early stages of alle rgic rhinitis when patients do not have clinical symptoms yet.