Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2007 Nov;50(11):996-1000.

Effects of Interleukin-18 on Allergic Response of Mouse Model

• Yoon YH
• Han WK
• Park SW
• Kim YM
• Rha KS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The imbalance between a Th1 response and a Th2 response may be one feature of allergic diseases' pathophysiology. IL-18, originally called the IFN-gamma inducing factor, stimulates both Th1 and Th2 responses depending on cytokine milieu. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of intranasal and intraperitoneal administration of IL-18 in mice with experimentally induced airway allergy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Female BALB/c mice were systemically sensitized with ovalbumin mixed with aluminum hydroxide and were challenged with the intranasal instillation of ovalbumin. IL-18 was instilled to nasal cavities or injected into peritoneum according to the experimental group. After provocation test, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected and IL-4, IL-5, IL-18 and IFN-gamma were measured. The degree of eosinophilic infiltration were evaluated at the peribronchial region of the lung specimen.
RESULTS
The concentration of IL-4 and IL-5 within BALF and peribronchial infiltration of eosinophils were significantly suppressed in the groups treated with IL-18 than in the control group. The intranasal instillation of IL-18 suppressed Th2 cytokines more effectively than the intraperitoneal injection.
CONCLUSION
It is suggested that allergic inflammation can be suppressed with the intranasal instillation of IL-18.

Keyword

Allergy; Airway; Interleukin-18

MeSH Terms

Aluminum Hydroxide
Animals
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Cytokines
Eosinophils
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Inflammation
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Interleukin-18*
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Lung
Mice*
Nasal Cavity
Ovalbumin
Peritoneum
Aluminum Hydroxide
Cytokines
Interleukin-18
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Ovalbumin