Objective: To investigate the cytokine level in the supernatants of spleen cell stimulated with different stimulus of allergic rhinitis model at different time, compared the effect of the two stimulus to the cytokine, and its secrete status.
Method: We sensitized and challenged the BALB/c mice with ovalbumin (OVA), in the control group normal sodium instead of OVA was used. After the last challenge we cultured the spleen mononuclear cell (SMNC) and stimulated with OVA or concanavalin A (ConA), then got the supernatants of the SMNC cultures at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h respectively to measure the concentration of cytokine IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma.
Result: Production of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma by ConA-stimulated SMNC from sensitized mice increased significantly (P < 0.05); the concentration of IL-4 and IL-5 by OVA-stimulated SMNC from sensitized mice also increased, inversely the production of IFN-gamma resulted suppression. The level of IL-4 was increased obviously in 72 hours, IL-5 and IFN-gamma were increased significantly in 48 hours, and slow down from 48 to 72 hours.
Conclusion: The T cells of the experimental allergic rhinitis mice were generally activated. Production of cytokines from Th2 cells by OVA or ConA increased significantly, but Th1 cells and its cytokines were suppressed. The result was more obvious in the ConA-stimulated group. The levels of cytokines increased persistently within 72 hours.