Role of staphylococcal enterotoxins [superantigens] in allergic rhinitis

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcal enterotoxins [S. Es.] of type A-D were immunologically detected in liquefied nasal blow washings and homogenized polypi of 20 patients suffering from allergic rhinitis [AR]. Tissue eosinophil count, serum IgE, IL-2 and IL-4 were also determined using ELISA technique, and the results were statistically compared with those obtained from 15 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Enterotoxin secreting potential of the isolated S. aureus was identified in 17 patients who showed remarkably increased levels of serum IgE, IL-2 and IL-4 and tissue eosinophil count. The results suggested that S. Es. can be incriminated as triggering factors that activate a large population of T-lymphocytes to elaborate interleukins and eventually leading to elevated serum IgE and tissue local eosinophilia in AR patients