Effect of specific immunotherapy on IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic rats

Objective To investigate the effect of specific immunotherapy on IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of asthmatic rats. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 in each group): the control group(group C),the asthma group(group A), the control of specific immunotherapy group(group CT) and the specific immunotherapy group(group T). The experimental asthma was established by using ovalbumin (OVA) challenge methods and the rats in group T were received the repeated inhaling different doses of OVA. The percentage of cells in BALF, the concentration of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in BALF and serum were measured respectively. Results The concentrations of IL-10 in BALF and serum of group A were significantly lower than those of group C( 0.01)or group T( 0.01)respectively. The serum IL-10 level in the group T was also lower than that of group C( 0.05). TGF-β1 levels in BALF and serum of group A were significantly higher than those of group C ( 0.01)or group T( 0.05)respectively. TGF-β1 levels in BALF and serum of group C was significantly lower those of group T( 0.05). Conclusions The data suggested that the specific immunotherapy could prevent the airway inflammation by increasing IL-10 and reducing TGF-β1 in asthmatic rat.