leptin and Rhinitis--Allergic--Seasonal

Both allergic disorders and obesity keep increasing in industrialized countries. Even though a strong association between obesity and allergy- related diseases has been reported in several studies, no published data show a scientific and firm link in-between the two conditions. In general, obesity and weight gain have been associated with an increased risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Asthma, allergic rhinitis and obesity have a common inflammatory pattern that could therefore justify their association. In fact, the chronic inflammation that characterizes the increase in white adipose tissue typically pushes the immune system toward a Th2 pattern. Such a polarization might, consequentially, worsen a pre-existing allergic disease or even stimulate the evolution from a sensitization to a respiratory form of allergy. Several studies have been published on the role of different adipokines on allergic diseases. We focus our review on the role of adipokines on asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Adipokines; Adiponectin; Asthma; Child; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Leptin; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Biomarkers; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Comorbidity; Desensitization, Immunologic; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Leptin; Nitric Oxide; Omalizumab; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Several studies have outlined a possible relationship between an increased body mass index (BMI) and respiratory allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum leptin levels in a cohort of patients with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, enrolled outside the pollen season, and in a group of healthy controls.. The study included 75 subjects: 41 patients with moderate-severe persistent allergic rhinitis due to a pollen allergy and 34 normal subjects. All subjects were prospectively and consecutively evaluated. A skin prick test and blood sampling for assessing serum leptin levels, eosinophils, specific IgE, and nasal challenge were performed in all subjects.. After analyzing genders separately, female allergic patients showed significantly higher levels than normal females (p = 0.031), whereas the comparison between allergic and normal males was not significant (p = 0.9651). Leptin serum levels were significantly related with age in normal (p = 0.0059) and allergic (p = 0.0042) females. In addition, BMI and leptin levels were significantly correlated (p = 0.01) in all allergic patients; there were other significant relationships between leptin levels and symptom severity in females (p = 0063, r = 0.68), peripheral eosinophils in males (p = 0.023, r = 0.49), and allergen threshold dose at nasal challenge in both genders (males: p = 0.0001, r = -0.85; females: p = 0.0001, r = -0.95).. This preliminary study provides the first evidence of significantly higher leptin serum levels in female patients with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis outside the pollen season.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Allergens; Body Mass Index; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Cell Count; Eosinophils; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Sex Factors; Skin Tests; Young Adult

Several studies have outlined a possible relationship between an increased body mass index (BMI) and respiratory allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis. Very recently, it has been demonstrated that serum adipokines, such as leptin and adiponectin, may be increased in patients with allergic rhinitis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum leptin and adiponectin levels in a cohort of patients with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, before and after a single preseasonal course of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). A total of 41 patients (22 male and 19 female, median age 39 years) with AR due to pollen allergy, along with 34 normal subjects, were included in the study. Blood sampling for assessing serum adipokines, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and eosinophils were performed in all subjects before and after the SLIT course. An increasing trend of both adipokines was observed after SLIT, albeit without statistical significance and with gender difference. Leptin was significantly related to some clinical parameters and peripheral eosinophil counts. Conversely, adinopectin showed an inverse significant correlation with peripheral eosinophils counts but only for men. In conclusion, the results of this preliminary study show that a single preseasonal SLIT course does not induce significant modifications in serum adipokines levels but induces only a slight increase.

Topics: Adiponectin; Administration, Sublingual; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Cohort Studies; Eosinophils; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunotherapy; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Young Adult

It has been demonstrated that serum leptin is elevated in females with allergic rhinitis. Recently, it has been reported that one course of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) does not affect serum leptin levels.. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum leptin levels in a cohort of patients with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, before and after two pre-seasonal SLIT courses.. Forty-one patients (22 males and 19 females, median age 39 years) with AR, due to pollen allergy, and 34 healthy subjects (16 males and 18 females, median age 43 years) were included in the study. Blood sampling for assessing serum leptin was performed in all subjects before and after the second SLIT course.. All patients were responders to SLIT. Serum leptin was significantly increased only in males (p=0.0056) after the second SLIT course.. This preliminary study shows that at least two pre-seasonal SLIT courses were required to induce significant modifications in serum leptin levels, but it occurred only in males. Some hypotheses might be outlined, including a leptin protective effect, however further studies must clarify this issue.

Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allergens; Betula; Cohort Studies; Desensitization, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Pollen; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Sex Factors; Skin Tests; Treatment Outcome

Several studies have outlined a possible relationship between an increased body mass index (BMI) and respiratory allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis. There are conflicting data about the role for leptin in allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the serum leptin levels in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), enrolled during and outside the pollen season, and in a group of healthy controls. The study included 137 subjects; 62 symptomatic SAR patients evaluated in season, 41 symptomless SAR patients out season, and 34 normal subjects. All subjects were consecutively evaluated. A skin prick test and blood sampling for assessing serum leptin levels were performed in all subjects. After analysing genders separately, symptomatic male patients had significantly higher levels than symptomless and normal subjects (p = 0.0004 and 0.0031 respectively), symptomatic female patients showed significantly higher levels than normal females (p = 0.0002). This study provides the evidence that leptin serum levels depend on allergen exposure in SAR patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Plant; Body Mass Index; Female; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Pollen; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Risk Factors; Seasons; Skin Tests