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Role of leptin in allergic rhinitis during sublingual immunotherapy

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Increasing evidence suggests that leptin is upregulated during allergic reactions in the airway and related to the severity of disease in allergic rhinitis (AR). In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of leptin during sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in AR patients.

Methods

Forty AR patients without obesity were recruited in this study. Twenty patients received house dust mite (HDM) allergen extract for SLIT and twenty patients received placebo randomly. Protein expression of leptin in serum and nasal lavage was tested by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) 1 and 2 years after SLIT treatment, respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human nasal epithelial cell were prepared and stimulated by recombinant leptin after 24 months’ SLIT treatment and the induction of Th2 cytokines (IL-4/IL-5/IL-13) were detected by ELISA.

Results

SLIT treatment decreased the expression of leptin protein in serum and nasal lavage significantly compared with placebo group 1 and 2 years after SLIT treatment. Nasal leptin level was correlated to decreased Th2 response (IL-4/IL-5/IL-13) and enhanced Treg (IL-10/TGF-beat) response after 2 years’ SLIT. We also found that SLIT decreased the ability of leptin in promoting Th2 cytokines expression by PBMCs and human nasal epithelial cell after 2 years’ SLIT treatment.

Conclusion

Changes of leptin expression in serum and nasal lavage may be correlated with Th2/Treg regulation during SLIT. Our results suggested that leptin served as an important biomarker during SLIT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Hospital, Jinan University, No. 613 West Huangpu Avenue, Guangzhou, 610632, China

    Yanhui Wen & Tao Zhang

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, The Third People’s Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, China

    Yanhui Wen

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China

    Lifeng Zhou

  4. Department of Imaging, The Third People’s Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, China

    Yuqiu Li

  5. Department of Otolaryngology, Boai Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China

    Zhengmin Li

  6. Department of General Surgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, China

    Weijun Deng

Authors
  1. Yanhui Wen
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  2. Lifeng Zhou
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  3. Yuqiu Li
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  4. Zhengmin Li
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  5. Weijun Deng
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  6. Tao Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tao Zhang.

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All authors declares that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Wen, Y., Zhou, L., Li, Y. et al. Role of leptin in allergic rhinitis during sublingual immunotherapy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 2733–2738 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5123-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5123-0

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