Analysis of local cytokine gene expression in patients with allergic rhinitis treated with CO2 laser surgery

Objectives/Hypothesis: Laser surgery of the inferior turbinates has become a popular surgical treatment for patients with allergic rhinitis, particularly for those who have persistent nasal obstruction and do not respond well to pharmacological therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the laser surgery on local cytokine gene expression at the mucosal surface in relation to the improvement of nasal symptoms. Study Design: A prospective analysis of 25 patients with allergic rhinitis caused by the house dust mite who underwent laser surgery twice with a I-month interval on an outpatient basis. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as normal control subjects. Methods: Improvement of the nasal symptoms was evaluated on a graded scale. Nasal mucosal cells were obtained by brushing hom the inferior turbinate at each visit. The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), and eotaxin was semiquantitatively analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Two months after treatment, the nasal symptom scores significantly decreased from baseline. The decrease was most apparent in nasal obstruction. RT-PCR analysis revealed that a significant decrease in IL-8 and RANTES expression (P < .001 and P = .012, respectively) was observed after successive laser treatment, and the reduction in these cytokines was significantly correlated. On the other hand, mRNA expression of GM-CSF, IL-6, and eotaxin remained unchanged, Conclusions: This study provided evidence that the expression of local inflammatory cytokines can be attenuated in part by CO2 laser treatment, which may be closely related to the clinical effectiveness of this procedure.