The Effect of Interleukin-12 on the Immune Response in Allergic Rhinitis Mouse Model / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Interleukin-12, produced by tissue macrophages and B lymphocytes, stimulates proliferation of Th1-type cells, while inhibiting the generation of Th2- type cytokines and IgE production. The mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin as an allergen to study the effect of IL-12 on the immune responses and the pathologic findings in allergic rhinitis mouse model. METHODS: The animal models were divided into three groups according to the time point of IL-12 trestment intraperitoneally. We measured IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma levels before and after IL-12 treatment. Also we examined the changes of histopathologic findings of mice nasal mucosa. RESULTS: 1) In allergic rhinitis mouse model sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin, IL-4 and IL-5 began to increase on 14 th day and then reached at peak. 2) In pathologic findings, the number of inflammatory cells were increased in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis mice as control without IL-12 treatment, whereas significantly decreased in both IL-12 treated groups than the allergic rhinitis group. 3) The concentration of IL-4 and IL-5 were decreased and IFN-gamma was increased in both IL-12 treated groups than the allergic rhinitis group. And there were no differences of the concentraion of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma between two groups of mice trested with IL-12 in early and late sensitizing phase. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that both early and late IL-12 treatment inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and decreased IL-4 and IL-5 production. Early IL-12 treatment could enhance the allergn specific Th1 immune reactions and late IL-12 treatment could convert Th2 cells to Th1 cells. Finally IL-12 could be applied as an allergen specific immune therapy for allergic rhinitis.