Effect of Allergen Specific Immunotherapy on Serum levels of IL-17 and IL-35 in Allergic Rhinitis Patients.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is mediated by many proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as interleuhin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-35 (IL-35) respectively. We assessed the effect of allergen specific immunotherapy (IT) on the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-35 in patients with AR sensitive to house dust mites (HDMs). Twenty patients with AR sensitive to HDMs and ten healthy control subjects were included in the study. Sensitivity to HDMs was diagnosed by positive skin prick test. Patients were treated by cluster IT. They were assessed by medical history, skin prick test, nasal symptoms scores, and measurement of serum IL-17 and IL-35 levels by ELISA technique before and after IT. All patients showed significant improvement in the skin test reactions and nasal symptoms scores after IT except for the postnasal drip which showed non-significant improvement. Serum IL-17 levels were higher in patients before IT than in control subjects and showed a significant decrease after IT. Serum IL-35 levels were lower in patients before IT than in control subjects and showed a significant increase after IT. No significant difference in the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-35 was observed between the patients and control subjects after IT. It was concluded that allergen specific IT decreases IL-17 and increases IL-35 in patients with AR sensitive to HDMs.