Correlations between IL-36 family cytokines in peripheral blood and subjective and objective assessment results in patients with allergic rhinitis

Background: As a newly described member of interleukin (IL)-1 superfamily, IL-36 has become a hot spot and frontier in inflammation and immunity research. However, whether IL-36 is correlated with the subjective and objective assessment results of allergic rhinitis (AR) and then affects the severity of AR remains unknown. So, this study aimed to investigate the correlations between their concentration levels and subjective and objective assessment results, and to further analyze their possible mechanisms in the development of AR. Methods An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration levels of the IL-36 family cytokines IL36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, IL-36Ra, and IL-38 in the peripheral blood of patients with AR. The condition of patients with AR was assessed by 22-item sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for disease severity, and serum inhalant allergen immunoglobulin E (IgE) detection. Correlations between IL-36 family cytokines and subjective and objective assessment results in patients with AR were analyzed. Results The concentration level of IL-36α in the peripheral blood of patients with AR was the highest, and the concentration level of IL-36β was the lowest. The concentration level of IL-36α was higher in juvenile patients than in adult patients, and there was a difference in IL-36Ra level between the perennial allergen group and the seasonal allergen group. There was a positive correlation between IL-36α level and IL-36γ, IL-36γ level and IL-36Ra, IL-36Ra level and IL-38, and IL-36β level was positively correlated with IL-36Ra and IL-38. IL-36α level was positively correlated with VAS score for nasal congestion symptom, and IL-36β level was positively correlated with VAS scores for ocular itching and eye pain symptoms. However, there was no correlation between the concentration levels of all cytokines in the IL-36 family and SNOT-22 score, total VAS score for severity of illness, the number of positive inhalant allergens, or the highest positive intensity of allergen specific IgE (sIgE). Conclusion Peripheral blood IL-36 family cytokines play an important role in the disease of AR, and the concentration levels of IL-36α and IL-36β were related to the severity of symptoms in patients with AR.