Allergen induced mRNA expression of interleukin-5, but not of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained before the pollen season predicts the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis.
We cultured human nasal mucosa obtained from individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis with either specific allergen, recombinant human IL-5 (rhIL-5), or allergen + soluble IL-5Ralpha (sIL-5Ralpha), shown to antagonize IL-5 function.