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Nitric oxide, IL ‐6 and IL ‐13 are increased in the exhaled breath condensates of children with allergic rhinitis
Author(s) -
Zagórska Wioletta,
Grzela Katarzyna,
Kulus Marek,
Sobczyński Maciej,
Grzela Tomasz
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12547
Subject(s) - exhaled breath condensate , medicine , exhaled nitric oxide , allergen , nasal administration , nitric oxide , asthma , immunology , interleukin 13 , interleukin , allergy , cytokine , bronchoconstriction
Aim To evaluate nitric oxide and interleukin ( IL )‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐13 in the exhaled breath of children with allergic rhinitis ( AR ), before and after intranasal allergen exposure. Methods A total of 49 children with AR – comprising 20 who also had episodic asthma ( AR + A ) and 29 without asthma ( AR ) – were compared with 34 healthy controls. Nitric oxide concentrations in exhaled air (e NO ) and IL ‐6, IL ‐8 and IL ‐13 in exhaled breath condensates ( EBC ) were measured in winter, outside the natural allergen exposure season, before and after an intranasal allergen challenge. Results The mean concentrations of e NO , IL ‐6 and IL ‐13 were significantly higher in the two AR groups. The concentration of IL ‐8 was below the assay detection limit in all EBC samples. The intranasal allergen challenge increased IL ‐13/ EBC levels in both AR groups, but did not influence mean concentrations of e NO , IL ‐6 or IL ‐8. No challenge‐related changes in IL ‐13/ EBC were observed in the allergen‐exposed controls or placebo‐exposed children. Conclusion Despite local application, the intranasal allergen challenge increased IL ‐13/ EBC concentration in the AR children. As EBC reflects the status of lower airway segments, our observation may support the ‘united airways’ hypothesis, suggesting a functional link between the upper and lower airways.