BACKGROUNDExcessive expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been demonstrated in asthmatic airway epithelia and in nasal epithelia from animal models of allergic rhinitis (AR), but the evidence of expression of TSLP in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) of patients with AR is lacking. We aimed to investigate the expression of TSLP in NECs of patients with mugwort sensitive-seasonal AR and determine whether it is associated with severity of symptoms and the number of infiltrated eosinophils in nasal mucosa.

METHODSNECs specimens were obtained by scraping with plastic curettes from the nasal inferior turbinates of patients with mugwort pollen sensitive-seasonal AR (n = 22) and nonallergic controls (n = 11) during last peak mugwort pollen season. The severity of nasal symptom was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). In addition, serum mugwort pollen IgE levels were tested from each patient. In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed to test the messenger RNA (mRNA) of TSLP in the NECs. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was scored to evaluate the expression of TSLP and eosinophil cell count was made by May-Grünwald/Giemsa staining. The correlation between expression of TSLP and all other parameters was analyzed in this study.

RESULTSThe mRNA level of TSLP was significantly increased in NECs of patients with AR compared with the nonallergic control group (P < 0.05). In addition, IHC results showed that expression of TSLP in NECs from patients with AR was up-regulated which was correlated with VAS score (r = 0.598; P < 0.05) and nasal eosinophils count (r = 0.702; P < 0.05), but it was unrelated with mugwort pollen specific IgE level.

CONCLUSIONSThese preliminary findings indicate a potential relationship between TSLP expression, severity of symptoms and nasal eosinophils count in pathogenesis of AR, but TSLP expression did not correlate with mugwort pollen specific IgE level. The elevated expression of TSLP might play a critical role in local atopical responses of AR. In the future, the TSLP has the potential to be one of the most important molecular markers for AR diagnoses and assessment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Artemisia ; immunology ; Cytokines ; analysis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; Pain Measurement ; Pollen ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; immunology

The pollen of Artemisia has been considered as the main late summer-autumn allergen source in this country. To identify its allergenic components, Artemisia princeps pollen extracts were separated by 10% sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane, where IgE binding components were detected by the reaction with sera of twenty Artemisia-allergic patients and 125I-anti-human IgE, sixteen components in the molecular range of 10,000 and 85,000 daltons were detected. Twelve bands bound to IgE from 50% of the sera tested, and two bands (37,000, 23,000 daltons) showed the highest (85%) frequency of IgE-binding in twenty sera tested. When the gel of SDS-PAGE with Artemisia pollen extracts was sliced into 11 allergenic groups (AG) and the protein of each AG was obtained by the gel elution method, the wormwool-RAST inhibition test showed that the AG 10 demonstrated to be the most potent, and the AG 7 was the next. Six AGs showed significant responses (more than 100% of wheal size to histamine, 1 mg/ml) on the skin prick test in more than 50% of the patients tested. It is suggested that electrophoretic transfer analysis with SDS-PAGE may be a valuable method for Artemisia allergen identification, and the possibility of partial purification of allergens by employing gel elution is discussed.
Blotting, Western/methods ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel/methods ; Human ; Korea ; Lymphokines ; Plants/immunology ; Pollen/analysis/*immunology ; Skin Tests/methods

The pollen of Artemisia has been considered as the main late summer-autumn allergen source in this country. To identify its allergenic components, Artemisia princeps pollen extracts were separated by 10% sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane, where IgE binding components were detected by the reaction with sera of twenty Artemisia-allergic patients and 125I-anti-human IgE, sixteen components in the molecular range of 10,000 and 85,000 daltons were detected. Twelve bands bound to IgE from 50% of the sera tested, and two bands (37,000, 23,000 daltons) showed the highest (85%) frequency of IgE-binding in twenty sera tested. When the gel of SDS-PAGE with Artemisia pollen extracts was sliced into 11 allergenic groups (AG) and the protein of each AG was obtained by the gel elution method, the wormwool-RAST inhibition test showed that the AG 10 demonstrated to be the most potent, and the AG 7 was the next. Six AGs showed significant responses (more than 100% of wheal size to histamine, 1 mg/ml) on the skin prick test in more than 50% of the patients tested. It is suggested that electrophoretic transfer analysis with SDS-PAGE may be a valuable method for Artemisia allergen identification, and the possibility of partial purification of allergens by employing gel elution is discussed.
Blotting, Western/methods ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel/methods ; Human ; Korea ; Lymphokines ; Plants/immunology ; Pollen/analysis/*immunology ; Skin Tests/methods

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of serum in allergic rhinitis and investigate the specific clinic allergen and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. METHOD: Allergy Screen method was used to detect the specific allergen and total serum IgE level of 134 cases of Allergic rhinitis. RESULT: The dust mite was the most common allergen in inhalation group in 134 cases of allergic rhinitis, the positive rates was 90%; then were donly, feline and scurfy fungus, the positive rates were 16%, 9%. The positive rates of total IgE was 54%. The serum IgE levels between 100 to 200 kU/L, there was 21 cases together, but there existed 7 negative cases. There were 51 cases' IgE levels more than 200 kU/L, the rates was 70.8%, but there still existed 4 negative cases. CONCLUSION Allergy screen method can find relevant allergen and provide basis for the prevention and treatment of allergic disease.
Adult ; Allergens ; blood ; immunology ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Mites ; immunology ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Pollen ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between airborne pollen concentrations and symptoms in patients with pollen allergic rhinitis.

METHODSDurhum sampler was used to collect the pollen concentration and species from June to September in 2011. The clinical skin prick test (SPT) data were analyzed. The patients with pollen allergic rhinitis were divided into pure pollen allergic rhinitis group (pollen group) and pollen combined perennial allergens allergic rhinitis group (combined group). Symptom scores of patients were assessed, and correlation between pollen concentration and onset of symptoms of patients were analyzed. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyse the data.

RESULTSWhile the peak of Summer-Autumn pollen concentration appeared from August 20 to September 15, the major pollen included Artemisia L, Chenopodium album and Humulus scandens. The peak of pollen concentration in one day reached 638/1000 mm(2). The patients taken SPT from June to September accounted for 51.9% of the patients in whole year, among which SPT pollen positive patients were 1509, 60.7% of all SPT positive patients. The amount and rate of SPT positive patients showed significant correlation with pollen concentration(r value were 0.90 and 0.99, both P < 0.05). Onset of symptoms in two groups was correlated with pollen concentration in Summer-Autumn. Symptoms of cough in combined group showed more severe compared with patients with pollen group (t = 2.36, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPollen concentration has a major effect on onset of symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Airborne pollen monitoring has important preventive and therapeutic significance on patients with allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Air ; analysis ; Allergens ; immunology ; Child ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pollen ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Seasons ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profiles of inhaled allergens in allergic rhinitis patients in district of Jingmen, and to provide basic epidemiologic information for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis in this area. METHOD: Retrospectively analyze 10 allergens skin prick test results of 1800 allergic rhinitis patients recruited. RESULT: The most common inhaled allergens in allergic rhinitis patients in our area were house dust mite (76.83%), dermatophagoides farinae (75.50%), mugwort (10.50%), ragweed (7. 39%), fungus II (6.28%), fungus I (5.83%), spring-pollen I (4.44%), spring pollen II (3.72%), poly-animal hair (3.56%), poly-feather (1.89%). Moreover, the positivity frequencies of house dust mite and dermatophagoides farinae were decreased with age increasing. CONCLUSION House dust mite and dermatophagoides farinae were the most common allergens in allergic rhinitis patients in Jingmen area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pollen ; immunology ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Japanese hop (Humulus spp.) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.) are notable causes of autumn pollinosis in East Asia. However, Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts, which are widely used for the diagnosis, have not been standardized. This study was performed to standardize Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Allergen extracts were prepared in a standardized way using locally collected Humulus japonicus and purchased Artemisia vulgaris pollens. The immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivities of prepared extracts were compared with commercial extracts via IgE immunoblotting and inhibition analyses. Intradermal skin tests were performed to determine the bioequivalent allergy unit (BAU). RESULTS: The IgE reactive components of the extracts via IgE immunoblotting were similar to those of commercial extracts. A 11-kDa allergen showed the strongest IgE reactivity in Japanese hop, as did a 28-kDa allergen in mugwort pollen extracts. Allergenic potencies of the investigatory Japanese hop and mugwort extracts were essentially indistinguishable from the commercial ones. Sums of erythema of 50 mm by the intradermal skin test (SigmaED50) were calculated to be 14.4th and 13.6th three-fold dilutions for Japanese hop and mugwort extracts, respectively. Therefore, the allergenic activity of the prepared extracts was 90827.4 BAU/mg for Japanese hop and 34412 BAU/mg for mugwort. CONCLUSION: We produced Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts using a standardized method. Standardized Japanese hop and mugwort pollen extracts will facilitate the production of improved diagnostic and immunotherapeutic reagents.
Allergens/*analysis/*immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; *Artemisia ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/blood/immunology ; Cross Reactions ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/*immunology ; Pollen/*chemistry/*immunology ; Reference Standards ; Republic of Korea ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of common allergens responsible for cases with allergic rhinitis in Tianjin district. METHOD: A total of 676 cases who are diagnosed with allergic rhinitis in Tianjin district, underwent a skin prick tests with 23 kinds of inhaling allergens and 20 kinds of ingestive ones. The samples were stratified on four age group. Then, an analysis was made to determine the distributive characteristics of allergens responsible for difference groups. RESULT: Among the surveyed local 676 cases with allergic rhinitis, higher positive rates was all inhaling group of allergens. CONCLUSION It is concluded that the mostly responsible common allergens for attacks of allergic rhinitis among local cases in Tianjin district are mites, flowers pollen in inhaling group of allergens.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Allergens ; analysis ; immunology ; Animals ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mites ; immunology ; Pollen ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the allergens distribution of 576 allergic rhinitis patients in Qingyang, and to provide basic epidemiologic information for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Skin prick test was done to all the 576 patients with allergic rhinitis with 28 kinds of allergens. RESULT: Four hundred and eighty cases (83.3%) showed positive reaction to at least one allergen of 28 allergens. The most common allergens were Magwort (73.3%), Giant Ragweed (55.0%) Tree II (51.7%), Tree I (48.3%) Dermatophagoides farinae (43.3%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (36.7%). Moreover. the positivity decreased with age. There was no difference between male and female. CONCLUSION The study shows that Magwort. Giant ragweed and tree II are the most important allergens on Qingyang district.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; classification ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mites ; immunology ; Pollen ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify the immunological characteristics of the recombinant major pollen allergen pTSX2 of Humulus scandens and evaluate its safety in immunotherapy of allergic asthma in mice.

METHODSWestern blotting was used to characterize the immunological properties of pTSX2, and its immunogenicity in normal mice was evaluated by detecting sIgG and sIgE levels. The mouse models of allergic asthma were immunized with pTSX2 and examined for sIgE and sIgG levels, total cells and eosinophils percentage in BALF, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in BALF and spleen homogenate, and changes in lung pathologies.

RESULTSWestern blotting showed that pTSX2 reacted with the majority (about 70%) of sera from patients allergic to Humulus pollen. In normal mice, pTSX2 mainly induced the production of sIgG. In mouse models of allergic asthma, intervention with pTSX2 caused a significant reduction of sIgE and an increase of sIgG (P<0.05), significantly decreased the total cells and eosinophils in BALF (P<0.05), obviously lowered IL-4 but increased IFN-γ in BALF and spleen homogenate (P<0.05), and diminished inflammatory cell infiltration and percentage of eosinophils in the lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpTSX2 shows a definite therapeutic effect and safety in the treatment of allergic asthma in mice possibly by inhibiting sIgE and inducing sIgG production, suppressing airway allergic inflammation and regulating the balance between Thl and Th2.

Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Humulus ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunotherapy ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pollen ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; immunology