lactoferrin and Rhinitis--Allergic

Despite the availability of a number of pharmacological options, relief of allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms, especially nasal obstruction, is often limited and local and systemic adverse reactions are not infrequent. The main aim of the present pilot study was to provide subjective and objective evidence of the clinical efficacy in reducing symptoms and safety of a medical device-Grip stop DMG (lactoferrin, carboximetil β-glucan, D-panthenol, dipotassiumglycyrrhizinate) in children affected by allergic rhinitis.. A prospective study with a pre- and post-design has been performed consecutively enrolling 50 pediatric both genders patients affected by persistent AR. Patients received 2 puffs into each nostril twice a day over the course of 4 weeks. The severity of AR symptoms was assessed subjectively as measured by a 0 to 5 Visual Analog Scale, and objectively through active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR) and by means of the evaluation of mucociliary transport time (MCTt). Differences in symptoms scores measured before and after the treatment were compared using Paired-Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Proportion of participants with adverse effects attributed to the treatment was computed. The relationship between the subjective score and the AAR and MCT measurements was also assessed.. All considered symptoms, including nasal congestion, significantly improved after treatment (P<0.001), while only 1 patient suffered from moderate adverse effects.. Results confirm efficacy and safety of this device used in the pediatric population. As previously reported in the scientific literature, also in our study, patient's perception of nasal symptoms corresponded with objective testing.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; beta-Glucans; Child; Equipment Design; Female; Glycyrrhizic Acid; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Nasal Obstruction; Pantothenic Acid; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Rhinitis, Allergic; Severity of Illness Index; Statistics, Nonparametric; Treatment Outcome

Lactoferrin (LF) can downregulate allergic airway inflammation in asthma. However, the in vivo effect of exogenous LF on allergic rhinitis (AR), a disease attributed to airway inflammation, has yet to be determined. We investigated the effect of intranasal administration recombinant human (rh) LF and its underlying mechanisms on AR in BALB/c mice. Multiple parameters of allergic responses were evaluated to determine the effect of rhLF. We found that the number of eosinophils and goblet cells, as well as mRNA and protein expression of type 2 helper T (Th2), Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the nasal cavity, was significantly upregulated in AR mice compared with the controls, Conversely, administration of rhLF prior to or after intranasal ovalbumin challenge markedly downregulated these same parameters. Th1-specific mRNA and protein expression in the nasal cavity of the controls was not different from that in AR mice, but expression significantly increased with rhLF treatment. The mRNA and protein expression of endogenous LF in the nasal cavity was significantly downregulated in AR mice compared with the controls. However, after rhLF treatment, endogenous LF mRNA and protein expression was significantly upregulated. Exogenous rhLF inhibited allergic inflammation in AR mice, most likely by promoting the endogenous LF expression and skewing T cells to a Th1, but not a Th2 and Th17 phenotype in the nasal mucosa. Our findings suggest that rhLF treatment may be a novel therapeutic approach for prevention and treatment AR.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Eosinophils; Goblet Cells; Inflammation; Lactoferrin; Lymphocyte Count; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Rhinitis, Allergic; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; RNA, Messenger; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells; Th2 Cells