miRNA-155 Assay Before and After Immunotherapy and Probiotics

MicroRNA-155 Assay in Childhood Allergic Rhinitis Before and After Combined Sublingual Immunotherapy and Probiotics

The investigators aimed to explore miRNA-155 change in response to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), probiotics and combined treatment with SLIT and probiotics in AR children.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory state characterized by a disturbance of immunoregulatory mechanisms that leads to an amplified T helper "Th-2" response. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are short single-stranded RNA molecules that post transcriptionally control gene expression and can mediate allergic process. The aim of this study was to explore miRNA-155 change in response to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), probiotics and combined treatment with SLIT and probiotics in AR children.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 5-18 years
• Diagnosed as having AR
• With positive skin test to grass pollen

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anatomical abnormalities of upper respiratory tract,
• Previous immunotherapy,
• Clinically significant inflammatory diseases,
• Malignancies,
• Chronic treatment with systemic corticosteroids or immune suppressive drugs