Immune markers in monosensitised and polysensitised patients with allergic airway diseases

<bold>Introduction:</bold> There is a hypothesis that predominant pathways in pathogenesis of allergic diseases differ in monosensitised and polysensitized patients. For example, IL-33 pathway is thought to be associated with multimorbidity and polysensitisation. <bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate the immune markers in monosensitised and polysensitised patients with allergic airway diseases. <bold>Methods:</bold> Patients with diagnosed allergic asthma (according to GINA) and/ or persistent allergic rhinitis (according to ARIA and symptoms duration ≥ 2 years) were involved into the study. Sensitization to allergens was assessed by skin prick. Total IgE was measured with enzyme immunoassays. IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, IL-33, and IFN-gamma levels were measured in serum and nasal lavage fluid using commercial ELISA kit. <bold>Results:</bold> The study comprised 42 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 21 with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma (AR+AA). Total IgE was higher in polysensitised patients with AR and AR+AA than in monosensitised patients with AR and AR+AA (379.26±48.98 vs. 113.74±37.67 kU/l, p<0.01). IFN-gamma in nasal lavage was higher in polysensitised patients with AR and AR+AA than in monosensitised patients with AR and AR+AA (7.96±1.03 vs. 5.63±0.31 pg/ml, p<0.05). Serum IL-17 (10.50±0.78 vs. 7.72±0.90 pg/ml, p<0.05) and serum IFN-gamma (3.18±0.56 vs. 1.70±0.07 pg/ml, p<0.01) were higher in polysensitised patients with AR+AA than in monosensitised patients with AR+AA. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Analysis of immune markers in local and systemic tissue lets us suggest that some cytokines such as IL-17 and IFN-gamma could be additional markers in evaluation of sensitization status in patients with allergic airway diseases.