Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
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Respiratory viral infections are a leading cause of the hospitalization of asthmatics, however, the cellular immunological interactions which underlie these two diseases remain elusive. ⋯ In addition to virus-mediated damage to the lung and airways, influenza viral infection can also enhance unrelated local allergic responses.
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Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that is mediated by Th2 responses. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is an extracellular polymeric compound that is synthesized by Bacillus cells. Previously, we found that γ-PGA promoted Th1 cell development in a manner dependent on antigen-presenting cells, but inhibited Th2 cell development. ⋯ Our data indicate that γ-PGA activates DCs to favour Th1 cell induction through a TLR-4-dependent pathway and alleviates pathologic symptoms in a Th2-biased asthmatic model. These findings highlight the potential of γ-PGA for the treatment of asthma and other allergic disease in which Th2 polarization plays an important role.
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The role of IL-5 receptor alpha chain (IL-5Ralpha) in the onset of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to acetylcholine was investigated by testing IL-5Ralpha knockout (IL-5Ralpha KO) mice. ⋯ These findings indicate that IL-5Ralpha plays an important role in the development of antigen-induced airway eosinophilia and BHR in mice.
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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lung and its incidence has been increasing around the world. We previously reported that oral administration of a water-soluble extract prepared from Actinidia arguta, code-named PG102, could modulate the level of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and suppress the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized murine model as well as in the in vitro cell culture system, and furthermore could significantly improve dermatitis conditions in the NC/Nga murine model. These data suggested that PG102 might have therapeutic effects in a broad range of allergic diseases. ⋯ PG102 may have potential as a safe and effective reagent for the prevention or treatment of asthma.
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Clinical studies indicate that maternal exposure to probiotic bacteria may protect from the development of allergic disease later in life. ⋯ Our data suggest that LGG may exert beneficial effects on the development of experimental allergic asthma, when applied in a very early phase of life. Immunological effects are, at least in parts, mediated via the placenta, probably by induction of pro-inflammatory cell signals.