ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fibroblasts play an indirectly augmenting effector role in allergic inflammatory response by releasing different proinflammatory cytokines, including RANTES, GM-CSF, IL-8 after stimulation by other inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha. The aim of this study was to investigate expression of RANTES in allergic and non-allergic nasal fibroblasts after stimulation with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and to study the effect of dexamethasone on the RANTES expression of nasal fibroblast cell. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the 3rd passage of fibroblasts taken from the inferior turbinates of allergic and non-allergic patients, we evaluated the RANTES expression of fibroblasts after the IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha stimulation in the presence or in the absence of dexamethasone by ELISA. RESULTS: The expression of RANTES in allergic nasal fibroblasts stimulated by cytokines was stronger than in non-allergic nasal fibroblasts stimulated by cytokines. And dexamethasone suppressed the RANTES expression in allergic nasal fibroblasts stimulated by IFN-gamma. However, dexamethasone did not affect the RANTES expression in allergic fibroblasts stimulated by TNF-alpha and non-allergic fibroblasts stimulated by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: This study shows different responses of the RANTES production in nasal fibroblasts to dexamethasone, perhaps reflecting heterogeneity of nasal fibroblasts.
