Anti-Interleukin-1 Beta/Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha IgY Antibodies Reduce Pathological Allergic Responses in Guinea Pigs with Allergic Rhinitis

This study aims to determine whether the combined blockade of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha can alleviate the pathological allergic inflammatory reaction in the nasal mucosa and lung tissues in allergic rhinitis (AR) guinea pigs. Healthy guinea pigs treated with saline were used as the healthy controls. The AR guinea pigs were randomly divided into (1) the AR model group treated with intranasal saline; (2) the 0.1% nonspecific IgY treatment group; (3) the 0.1% anti-TNF-alpha IgY treatment group; (4) the 0.1% anti-IL-1 beta IgY treatment group; (5) the 0.1% combined anti-IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha IgY treatment group; and (6) the fluticasone propionate treatment group. The inflammatory cells were evaluated using Wright's staining. Histopathology was examined using hematoxylineosin staining. The results showed that the number of eosinophils was significantly decreased in the peripheral blood, nasal lavage fluid, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P < 0.05), and eosinophil, neutrophil, and lymphocyte infiltration and edema were significantly reduced or absent in the nasal mucosa and lung tissues (P < 0.05) in the combined 0.1% anti-IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha IgY-treated guinea pigs. The data suggest that topical blockade of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha could reduce pathological allergic inflammation in the nasal mucosa and lung tissues in AR guinea pigs.