Allergies
Reference: Myers, L and Bouic, PJD. Flow cytometric analysis of the TH1-TH2 shift in allergic individuals using Moducare® (sterols/sterolins). Proc. 26th Annu Cong Physiol Soc S. Afr. 1998; Abstract 178.
Study: A placebo-controlled blinded pilot study was performed on 24 atopic individuals (mainly pollen sensitivity) over a 12-week period. To determine whether the balance between TH1 and TH2 CD4 cells differs between allergic and non-allergic individuals, several laboratory and clinical markers of activity were measured. Four groups were followed: allergic persons were given either placebo or active Moducare® capsules and the lymphokine profile was determined at baseline and again 4 weeks later. A group of non-allergic persons serving as controls was similarly formed. Blood lymphocytes were analysed using flow cytometry.
Results: It was shown that allergic persons exhibited significantly raised IL4 containing CD4+ cells at the start of the study when compared to the non-allergic control group. The intake of Moducare® induced a significant decrease in IL4 in both allergic as well as in the control groups. It was interesting to note that, unlike the allergic persons, the non-allergic controls receiving the sterols/sterolins capsules increased their IFN-y CD4+ cells after 4 weeks of therapy.
Statistically significant changes occurred with the allergic individuals in the following: less rhinorea, less turbinate hypertrophy, less post nasal drip symptoms, lower IgE plasma levels and higher TH1 producing cells. Subjective improvements were reported by the patients themselves when use of an international questionnaire was made to record patient symptoms.
Clinical Summary: The TH1-TH2 response in allergic individuals appears perturbed when compared to that of healthy, non-allergic controls. Moducare® appears to decrease the synthesis of IL4 in allergic persons as well as in healthy controls.
