[Expression of IL-12 mRNA in the nasal mucosa of experimental allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between the level of IL-12 expression and the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, we investigated the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) mRNA in the nasal mucosa of experimental allergic rhinitis. METHOD: 24 healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups. A model of allergic rhinitis (AR) in guinea pig was established by using ovalbumin intraperitoneal immunization and nasal antigen challenge. The nasal mucosa obtained from AR models as well as normal controls were studied for histopathological changes with stain HE, and expression of IL-12 mRNA with RT-PCR. RESULT: IL-12 was expressed in all the samples from AR models to normal controls. The mean expression level of IL-12 gene, however, in AR models was lower than that in normal controls (0.667 +/- 0.104 vs 0.847 +/- 0.071, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IL-12 expression was decreased in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. It is also suggested that IL-12 replacement therapy may be a new approach to the treatment of allergic rhinitis.