Y. Ohashi et al., SERUM LEVELS OF SPECIFIC IGE, SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR, AND SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS, Annals of allergy, asthma, & immunology, 79(3), 1997, pp. 213-220
Background: There is increasing evidence that soluble interleukin-2 re
ceptor (sIL-2R) might reflect T cell activation in vivo and soluble in
tercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) might reflect the ongoing in
flammatory response in the inflamed site. Objective: The aim of this s
tudy was to determine the effect of antihistamine tablets and allergen
-specific immunotherapy on the seasonal changes in specific IgE, sIL-2
R, and sICAM-1 in the serum of patients with seasonal allergic rhiniti
s. Methods: This prospective study included 99 patients with seasonal
allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollens and 27 nonatopic healt
hy volunteers. The patients were divided into an antihistamine-treated
group and an immunotherapy group. Serum samples were collected before
and during the pollen season from each patient to determine specific
IgE, sIL-2R, and sICAM-1. Results: Levels of sIL-2R before the pollen
season did not differ significantly among the nonatopic group, the ant
ihistamine-treated group, and the immuno-therapy group. The levels of
sICAM-1 before the pollen season were significantly higher in the anti
histamine-treated group and in the immunotherapy group than in the non
atopic group. Seasonal increase in specific IgE was significant in the
antihistamine-treated group regardless of their clinical outcomes. In
contrast, significant increase in specific IgE was observed during th
e pollen season in poor responders but not in good responders to immun
otherapy. Serum levels of sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were significantly increa
sed during the pollen season in poor responders of the antihistamine-t
reated group and the immunotherapy group. On the other hand, neither s
easonal increase in sIL-2R nor sICAM-1 was significant in good respond
ers of the antihistamine-treated group and the immunotherapy group. Co
nclusions: Serum levels of sICAM-1 are higher in patients with seasona
l allergic rhinitis, even outside of the pollen season when the allerg
en does not naturally exist. Seasonal changes in serum sICAM-1 as well
as sIL-2R and specific IgE are probably objective markers to indicate
the clinical efficacy of antihistamines and immunotherapy on seasonal
allergic rhinitis.