Involvement of T-Helper 9 Activation in a Mouse Model of Allergic Rhinitis

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the role of T-Helper (TH) 9 cells in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) in mice. MATERIAL/METHODS: An AR model was produced in BALB/c mice, and the viral encoding interleukin (IL)-9 silencing sequence was used to reduce IL-9 expression. The experiment was divided into a control group, an AR group, an IL-9 shRNA+AR group, and a vector+AR group. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to detect pathological changes. The cytokine expression was detected by ELISA method. Cellular typing was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Cells in the control group were regularly arranged, with clear layers and no congestion, edema, or necrosis observable. By contrast, in the AR model group and the vector treatment group, nasal mucosa showed clear hyperemia and edema in upper tissues and infiltration of inflammatory cells, which were ameliorated by IL-9 silencing. Compared with the control group, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was significantly down-regulated, while IL-4, IL-17, and IL-9 were significantly elevated in the AR model group. TH1 cells in nasal mucosa, lymph, nasal lavage, spleen, and peripheral blood were significantly reduced, while TH2, TH9, TH17, and Treg cells were significantly elevated in the AR group compared with the control group. Importantly, all these changes in AR model were ameliorated by IL-9 silencing. CONCLUSIONS: AR is related to the changes of cytokines in TH1, TH2, TH9, TH17, and Treg, which are improved by IL-9 silencing. Activation of TH9 cells is involved in the pathogenesis of AR.