ABSTRACT
The function of apoptosis [programmed cell death; PCD] is to eliminate unnecessary or dangerous cells. The balance between production and death is important in the control of cell numbers within physiological ranges. The dysregulation ofapoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related molecules of allergen-reactive T lymphocytes have been suggested to play a key role in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory reactions in allergic diseases. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression of apoptosis-related molecules Fas and B-cell lymphoma [Bcl]-2 of peripheral blood T lymphocytes in allergic rhinitis children and in allergic rhinitis children combined with asthma. The plasma concentration of serum Fas was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The expression of the Bcl-2 molecule in T lymphocytes was assessed by flow cytometry. We examined two groups of patients with allergy. The first group consisted of 23 children with allergic rhinitis only. The second group consists of 22 children with allergic rhinitis combined with asthma. The study was done during the season of allergy from March 2007 to September 2007. The control group comprised 20 apparently healthy, age and sex matched subjects. The results showed that the serum level of Fas was significantly elevated in allergic rhinitis patients combined with asthma when compared to patients suffering from allergic rhinitis only and to control subjects [P= 0.007]. The levels of Bcl-2 were significantly lowered in both groups of our study compared to control group [P<0.001]. In conclusion, the lower serum levels of soluble Fas in patients with allergic rhinitis in contrast to its elevation in allergic rhinitis patients combined with bronchial asthma suggesting a different pathogenesis for allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma at the apoptosis-linked step. While the lower levels of Bcl-2 in both groups revealed that, there was need for further investigations on the dysregula-tion of activation-induced cell death of T lymphocytes