Allergy to Der p 23 influences the cytokine profile in patients with allergic asthma – a preliminary study

Abstract

Objective

Der p 23 is a major allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which could contribute to allergic asthma. The study compared the cytokine profile (Il-1beta, Il-4, Il-5, Il-6, Il-13, Il-17, TNF-alpha) in patients with allergic asthma, with confirmed allergy to D. pteronyssinus and with the presence or absence of allergy to Der p 23.

Methods

Among 173 included patients, the following combinations were analyzed: profile A – Der p 1 (+), Der p 2 (+), and Der p 23 (−) observed in 38 (22%) patients; profile B – Der p 1 (+), Der p 2 (+), and Der p 23 (+) in 87 (50.3%) patients; and profile C – Der p 1 (−), Der p 2 (−), and Der p 23 (+) in 15 (8.7%) patients.

Results

The mean concentration of Il-1beta was significantly lower in profile A than in profiles B and C: 10.51 ± 5.22 (pg/ml) vs. 21.92 ± 11.34 vs. 23.1 ± 8.56 (A vs. B for p = 0.03 and A vs. C for p = 0.019). Similar trends were observed for Il-5: 38.5 ± 10.45 (pg/ml) vs. 94.8 ± 54.11 vs. 103.61 ± 34.9 (A vs. B for p = 0.008 and A vs. C for p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The higher Il-1 and Il-5 activities observed in profiles B and C with Der p 23 (+) could be responsible for the more effective acceleration of allergic inflammation than in profile A with Der p 23.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• IgE
• mites
• allergy

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.