Specific IgE to gliadin was proposed as a marker for wheat dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, while Tri a 14 was found to induce IgE response in baker's asthma. We evaluated whether these components could be used for discriminating phenotypes of wheat allergy. Twenty-nine patients who were wheat-induced anaphylaxis and/or urticaria (n=21, group I) and baker's asthma (n=8, group II) were enrolled. The prevalence of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 was higher in group II (25%) than in group I (4.8%), while the serum specific IgE to gliadin was significantly higher in group I (70%) than in group II (12.5%). The cutoff value for predicting the baker's asthma using the ratio of serum specific IgE to Tri a 14 to gliadin was 742.8 optical densityx1,000/(kU/L) with high sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that Tri a 14/gliadin may be a potential marker for predicting baker's asthma.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis/immunology ; Antigens, Plant/*immunology ; Asthma/blood/diagnosis/immunology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Carrier Proteins/*immunology ; Female ; Gliadin/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood/immunology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Triticum/immunology ; Urticaria/immunology ; Wheat Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of combined determination of in vitro allergens and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in indentifying children at a high risk of asthma among those with recurrent wheezing.

METHODSA total of 148 children with recurrent wheezing (0.5-6 years old) were enrolled as study subjects, and 80 healthy children who underwent physical examination were enrolled as the control group. Pharmacia UniCAP immunoassay analyzer was used to measure specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). Nano Coulomb Nitric Oxide Analyzer was used to measure FeNO. The asthma predictive index (API) was evaluated.

RESULTSThe recurrent wheezing group had a significantly higher proportion of children with positive sIgE than the control group [68.9% (102/148) vs 11.3% (9/80); P<0.05]. The recurrent wheezing group also had significantly higher levels and positive rate of FeNO than the control group (P<0.05). The overall positive rate of API in children with wheezing was 32.4%, and the API-positive children had a significantly higher FeNO value than the API-negative children (51±6 ppb vs 13±5 ppb; P<0.05). The detection rate of API was 40.2% (41/102) in positive-sIgE children and 50.1% (38/73) in FeNO-positive children, and there was no significant difference between these two groups. The children with positive sIgE and FeNO had a significantly higher detection rate of API (81.4%) than those with positive sIgE or FeNO (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCombined determination of FeNO and in vitro allergens is more sensitive in detecting children at a high risk of asthma than FeNO or in vitro allergens determination alone and provides a good method for early identification, diagnosis, and intervention of asthma in children.

Allergens ; immunology ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: In order provide important evidences for epidemiologic survey, clinical diagnosis, treatment and preservation of allergic diseases in this area, we investigate the distribution of the common allergens in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma in Jingmen area and the sensitization condition of the major allergen house dust mite. METHOD: Four hundred and twenty-five patients with suspected allergic rhinitis and asthma in our area accepted skin prick tests of 10 standard allergen agents and specificity IgE detection. The different positivity ratios of allergens in different age groups were compared and the correlation between the two different technique methods testing the dust mite allergen was analyzed. RESULT: Among 425 patients with suspected allergic rhinitis and asthma in our area, 298 patients were positive and 89 patients suffered a combined allergic asthma. House dust mite (292 cases) and dermatophagoides farinae (289 cases) were the commonest allergens. The other common allergens were mugwort (45), ragweed (31), fungus I (19), fungus II (15), spring-pollen II (14), poly-animal hair (14), spring-pollen I (9), poly-feather (3). There was a correlation between skin test and sIgE test for house dust mite, dermatophagoides farinae in children group, and the positivity ratios were significantly higher than the adults group. CONCLUSION Dust mite is the most important allergen in allergic rhinitis and asthma in Jingmen.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

To evaluate the clinical significance of autoantibodies to three major epithelial cytokeratins (CK) -- CK8, CK18, and CK19 -- we compared 66 patients with toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma (group I) with three control groups: 169 asymptomatic exposed subjects (group II), 64 patients with allergic asthma (group III), and 123 unexposed healthy subjects (group IV). Serum IgG, specific for human recombinant CKs, were measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), and ELISA inhibition tests were performed. The existence of these antibodies was confirmed by IgG immunoblot analysis. Anti-TDI-HSA (human serum albumin) IgE and IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA in the same set of the patients. The prevalence of CK8, CK18, and CK19 auotantibodies in group I was significantly higher than in the other three groups. Results of the ELISA inhibition test showed significant inhibition with the addition of three CKs in a dose-dependent manner. No significant association was found between CK autoantibodies and the prevalence of anti- TDI-HSA IgG and IgE antibodies. These results suggest that autoantibodies to CK18 and CK19 can be used as serologic markers for identifying patients with TDI-induced asthma among exposed workers.
Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/*toxicity ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Occupational Diseases/chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Keratins/*immunology ; Keratin-8/immunology ; Keratin-19/immunology ; Keratin-18/immunology ; Immunoblotting ; Humans ; Female ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Biological Markers/blood ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; Asthma/chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Adult

OBJECTIVEThe prevalence of allergic asthma has been rising continually which is correlated with the increasingly closed living environment. House dust mites are the major sources of indoor aeroallergens which induce asthma in sensitized people. To monitor the seasonal variation of house dust mite (HDM)-allergens exposure level in the asthmatic children, which was evaluated to show its correlation with the level of asthma control, HDM allergic sensitization and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and to provide basic data for HDM environmental control.

METHODA total of 48 HDM-allergic asthmatic children were enrolled from the asthma clinic in the hospital from March 2011 to January 2012 (boys 34 and girls 14, aging from 3 to 14 years, mean age 8 years and 4 months) in the present study. Dust samples from mattresses, pillows, bedroom floor, living room floor and sofas were collected in each season within one year in the household of all the enrolled patients. The concentrations of Der p 1 and Der f 1 were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To record the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score or Children Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) score for each patient and to collect the data of doctor monitoring asthma control level each time when the patient was clinic visited. The concentration and its classification of the serum specific IgE to HDM was determined by fluoroenzyme-immunometric assay.

RESULTThe average concentration of Der f 1 of all dust samples was significantly higher than that of Der p 1 (0.13 µg/g vs 0.02 µg/g, P < 0.05). The concentrations of Der f 1 from mattresses, pillows and sofas dust samples were significantly higher than those from bedroom floor and living room floor dust samples (0.69 µg/g, 0.42 µg/g and 0.22 µg/g vs 0.07 µg/g and 0.07 µg/g, P < 0.05). The Der f 1 exposure level from mattress dusts in summer but no others was negatively correlated with asthma control level (r = -0.318, P = 0.036). The Der f 1 exposure level from any area dusts in summer and the Der p 1 exposure level from pillows dusts in autumn was negatively correlated with ACT/C-ACT score respectively. The Der f 1 from mattress dusts in winter was positively correlated with classification of sIgE to Der f 1. The Der p 1 exposure level from most areas in each season was positively correlated with classification of sIgE to Der f 1 and Der P 1.

CONCLUSIONDer f 1 was the predominant mite allergen in household dust and mainly came from mattresses, pillows and sofas. The role of the HDM allergen exposure level on the asthma control level and HDM allergic sensitization for the asthmatic children were depended on its area, season and HDM species, which suggested that the future assessment of clinical effect by the HDM environmental control should consider these factors.

Adolescent ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; analysis ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; etiology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dust ; Environmental Exposure ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Risk Factors ; Seasons

Diisocyanate (DI) is the most common cause of occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) initiates the lectin complement activation pathway following oxidative stress and plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes. To determine whether there is a genetic association between MBL2 polymorphisms and DI-OA, 99 patients with DI-OA, 99 asymptomatic exposed controls (AECs) and 144 unexposed normal controls were enrolled in this study. Three polymorphisms (-554 G>C, - 431A>C and - 225 G>C) in the MBL2 promoter were genotyped, and serum MBL levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functional variabilities in the promoter polymorphisms were analyzed by a luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). A significantly higher frequency of haplotype (ht) 2 [CAG] was noted in the DI-OA group compared with the AEC group (P=0.044). The patients with DI-OA carrying ht2 [CAG] had significantly lower PC20 methacholine levels (P<0.001) than the non-carriers. The serum MBL levels were significantly higher in the DI-exposed subjects (both the DI-OA patients and AECs) carrying ht1 [GAG] (P=0.028). Luciferase activity was significantly enhanced in ht1 [GAG] compared with ht2 [CAG] in human hepatocarcinoma cells (Hep3B) (P=0.002). The EMSA showed that a - 554G probe produced a specific shifted band compared with the - 554C probe. These findings suggest that decreased serum MBL levels due to polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene may increase susceptibility to the development of DI-OA in DI-exposed individuals.
Adult ; Alleles ; Asthma, Occupational/diagnosis/*etiology ; Cell Line ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/immunology ; Isocyanates/*adverse effects/immunology ; Male ; Mannose-Binding Lectin/blood/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein Binding ; Transcriptional Activation ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been reported to induce asthmatic reactions in mice but few studies have compared their efficiency. We evaluated the efficiency of the protocols frequently used in the literature. METHODS: BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection; 1] Once a week for two weeks using OVA with alum (IPOA-2) or without (IPO-2), and provocation on days 28-30 by 1% OVA inhalation; 2] seven times for two weeks by OVA with alum (IPOA-7) or without (IPO-7) and provocation by 1% OVA inhalation on days 42-44. 3] Sensitization by 1% OVA inhalation for ten days (IHO-10) and provocation by 1% OVA inhalation on days 28-30. After the last challenge, airway hyperresponsiveness was measured with single chamber plethysmography 24 hours later and mice were sacrificed 48 hours later. RESULTS: Airway hyperresponsiveness, BALF eosinophilia, airway inflammation, and OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 production were effectively induced in IPOA-2, IPOA-7, and IPO-7. However, these phenotypes were not induced in IPO-2 (except for increased BALF eosinophils) or IHO-10 (except for an increased OVA-specific IgG1 level). CONCLUSION: The intraperitoneal injections of OVA with alum once a week for two weeks proved to be the most efficient sensitization method of inducing an asthmatic reaction in mice.
Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/blood ; Asthma/diagnosis/*genetics/immunology ; *Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Comparative Study ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Immunoglobulin G/immunology ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lung/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin/administration & dosage/*diagnostic use/immunology ; *Phenotype ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't