International archives of allergy and immunology
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 2009
Clinico-immunochemical studies on airborne Areca catechu L. Pollen, a probable risk factor in emergency asthma hospitalization from Eastern India.
The pollen grain of the Areca catechu L. tree is airborne and allergenic. This study aimed to know the role of this pollen as a source of aeroallergen with effect on emergency asthma hospitalization, to isolate its important allergic fraction and to check its cross-reaction with betel nut. ⋯ A. catechu pollen is a significant contributor to the aeroallergen load in India. Its partially purified IgE-reactive fraction may be useful in therapeutics. The betel nut extract showed remarkable cross-reactivity with Areca pollen.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 2009
Review Case ReportsEvaluation of immediate allergic reactions to cephalosporins in non-penicillin-allergic patients.
Cephalosporins can induce severe or life-threatening IgE-mediated reactions in some individuals. In this study, we wish to describe a group of non-penicillin-allergic patients who were evaluated for immediate allergic reactions to cephalosporins. ⋯ A positive skin test to cephalosporin implies the presence of drug-specific IgE antibodies. Cephalosporins without side chain similarities are suggested to patients with cephalosporin reactions and no beta-lactam reactivity.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyComparison of acute inflammatory and chronic structural asthma-like responses between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice.
The interactions between airway responsiveness, structural remodelling and inflammation in allergic asthma remain poorly understood. Prolonged challenge with inhaled allergen is necessary to replicate many of the features of airway wall remodelling in mice. In both mice and humans, genetic differences can have a profound influence on allergy, inflammation, airway responsiveness and structural changes. ⋯ Airway inflammation, remodelling and hyperresponsiveness are closely intertwined processes. Genetic background influences several aspects of the acute allergic phenotype. Chronic allergen exposure induces a marked airway remodelling that parallels a decreased inflammation, which was largely comparable between the two strains.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyBCG priming of dendritic cells enhances T regulatory and Th1 function and suppresses allergen-induced Th2 function in vitro and in vivo.
The inverse correlation of mycobacterial infection with asthma prevalence and the inhibitory effects of vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) on airway hyperreactivity in asthma models suggest modulation of dendritic cell (DC) and T cell functions by mycobacterial compounds. ⋯ BCG-induced suppression of Th2-type allergic airway inflammation was associated with enhancement of regulatory T cell function but also of Th1-associated neutrophilic airway inflammation. These findings raise concerns regarding the safety profile of BCG as a potential tool for prevention and therapy of allergic airway disease.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 2008
ReviewImmunoglobulin-E-mediated reactivity to self antigens: a controversial issue.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity to self antigens is well established in vitro by ELISA, inhibition ELISA, Western blot analyses and T cell proliferation experiments. In vivo, IgE-binding self antigens are able to elicit strong type I reactions in sensitized individuals and, in the case of human manganese superoxide dismutase, to elicit eczematous reactions on healthy skin areas of patients suffering from atopic eczema. The reactions against self antigens sharing structural homology with environmental allergens can be plausibly explained by molecular mimicry between common B cell epitopes. ⋯ However, in all cases, cross-reactivity is never complete, indicating either a lower affinity of IgE antibodies to self allergens than to the homologous environmental allergens or the presence of additional B cell epitopes on the surface of the environmental allergens, or both. Increasing evidence shows that self allergens could play a decisive role in the exacerbation of long-lasting atopic diseases. However, the only observation supporting a clinical role of IgE-mediated autoreactivity is confined to the fact that IgE levels against self antigens correlate with disease severity.