Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common nonfatal disease burden worldwide. Systemic chronic low-grade inflammation has been reported to be associated with MDD progression by affecting monoaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, whether various proinflammatory cytokines are abnormally elevated before the first episode of depression is still largely unclear. Here, we evaluated 184 adolescent patients who were experiencing their first episode of depressive disorder, and the same number of healthy individuals was included as controls. We tested the serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IgE, 14 different types of food antigen-specific IgG, histamine, homocysteine, S100 calcium-binding protein B, and diamine oxidase. We were not able to find any significant differences in the serum levels of hs-CRP or TNF-α between the two groups. However, the histamine level of the patients (12.35 μM) was significantly higher than that of the controls (9.73 μM, P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). Moreover, significantly higher serum food antigen-specific IgG positive rates were also found in the patient group. Furthermore, over 80% of patients exhibited prolonged food intolerance with elevated levels of serum histamine, leading to hyperpermeability of the blood-brain barrier, which has previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. Hence, prolonged high levels of serum histamine could be a risk factor for depressive disorders, and antihistamine release might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for depression treatment.
Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chronic Disease ; Cytokines ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; blood ; complications ; Histamine ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Male ; Risk Factors ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) and non-methylated CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) on the expression of peripheral blood CD4CD25regulatory T (Treg) cells in young mice with food allergy, as well as their immune intervention effects.

METHODSA total of 40 female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, allergic group, ADSC treatment group, and CpG-ODN treatment group, with 10 mice in each group. A mouse model of food allergy was established by intraperitoneal injection and intragastric administration of ovalbumin (OVA) for sensitization and challenge. The mice in the control group were treated with normal saline at the same dose; the mice in the ADSC treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of ADSC (1×10cells for each mouse) before and after OVA challenge, and those in the CpG-ODN treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of non-methylated CpG-ODN solution (40 μg for each mouse) at 1 hour before challenge by gavage. The allergic symptom scores were determined for each group after model establishment. ELISA was used to measure the serum level of OVA-IgE. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of peripheral blood CD4CD25Treg cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for the pathological analysis of the jejunum.

RESULTSThe allergic group had significantly higher allergic symptom scores and serum level of OVA-IgE than the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the allergic symptom score and the serum level of OVA-IgE between the ADSC treatment group and the CpG-ODN treatment group (P>0.05), but these two groups had significantly lower allergic symptom scores and serum level of OVA-IgE than the allergic group and significantly higher allergic symptom scores and serum level of OVA-IgE than the control group (P<0.01). The allergic group had a significantly lower percentage of peripheral blood CD4CD25Treg cells than the control group (P<0.05). The ADSC treatment group and the CpG-ODN treatment group had a significantly higher percentage of peripheral blood CD4CD25Treg cells than the allergic group (P<0.05); there were no significant differences between these two groups or between them and the control group (P>0.05). Pathological results showed structural damage and edema in the jejunal villi, a large number of eosinophils, and lymphocyte infiltration in the allergic group, while the ADSC treatment group and the CpG-ODN treatment group had less structural damage and edema in the jejunal villi, a lower number of eosinophils, and less lymphocyte infiltration.

CONCLUSIONSADSC and non-methylated CpG-ODN have a certain effect in the treatment of food allergy and can increase the percentage of peripheral blood CD4CD25Treg cells and reduce the level of OVA-IgE. They may be associated with the induction of immune tolerance and these two treatment have comparable effects. Detailed mechanisms of action still need further investigation.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; therapy ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; immunology

Allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and food allergy, are preventable diseases. Primary prevention strategies of allergic diseases have been in scrutiny. Effective prevention strategies maybe started prenatally, postnatally, during infancy, and even during childhood. These guidelines have been prepared by the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Philippine Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. They aim to provide evidence-based recommendations for the dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases in children. The primary audience of these guidelines is all healthcare practitioners who manage patients with potential allergic conditions. These guidelines are based on an exhaustive review of evidences, mostly systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies. However, there are still many gaps in the evidence of dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases.
Allergy and Immunology ; Asthma ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Eczema ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Primary Prevention ; Rhinitis, Allergic

Offending food allergens can vary with regional preferences in food consumption. In this study, we analysed sensitization rates to commonly consumed foods in Korean adults suspected of having food allergy. One hundred and thirty four subjects underwent a skin prick test (SPT) with 55 food allergens, of which 13 were made by our laboratory and the rest were commercially purchased. Of the 134 patients, 73 (54.5%) were sensitized to one or more food allergens. Sensitization to chrysalis was detected most frequently, at a rate of 25.4%. Sensitization rates to other food allergens were as follows: maize grain (13.4%), shrimp (11.9%), almond (11.1%), wheat flour (8.2%), lobster (8.2%), buckwheat (8.2%), mackerel (5.2%), pollack (5.2%), halibut (4.5%), peanut (4.5%), anchovy (4.4%), squid (3.7%), saury (3.0%), common eel (3.0%), yellow corvina (3.0%), hairtail (2.2%), octopus (2.2%), and others. In addition to well-known food allergens, sensitivity to mackerel, chrysalis, pollack, and halibut, which are popular foods in Korea, was observed at high rates in Korean adults. We suggest that the SPT panel for food allergy in Korea should include these allergens.
Adult ; Aged ; Allergens/immunology ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Flounder/immunology ; Food Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*analysis/immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth/immunology ; Perciformes/immunology ; Republic of Korea ; *Skin Tests ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONAtopic dermatitis is a common, chronic pruritic condition affecting both children and adults, which has a negative impact on the quality of life. These guidelines were developed by an expert workgroup appointed by the Dermatological Society of Singapore, to provide doctors with information to assist in the management of their patients with atopic dermatitis. The workgroup members are experienced dermatologists with interest and expertise in eczemas.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWorkgroup members arrived at a consensus on the topics to be included. Relevant studies from the literature were assessed for best evidence, supplemented by the collective experience of the workgroup.

RESULTSFor mild atopic dermatitis, emollients, mild potency topical steroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors are recommended. For moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the use of emollients, moderate-to-potent topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, wet dressings, antimicrobials for secondary skin infection, phototherapy, and systemic therapy (e.g. prednisolone, cyclosporine, azathioprine or methotrexate) may be warranted. Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis should be managed in conjunction with a dermatologist.

CONCLUSIONGood outcomes can be achieved with an individualised therapeutic approach combined with adequate patient and parental education.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Azathioprine ; therapeutic use ; Calcineurin Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Coinfection ; complications ; drug therapy ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; complications ; immunology ; therapy ; Dermatology ; Disease Management ; Emollients ; therapeutic use ; Food Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Patient Education as Topic ; Phototherapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Referral and Consultation ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Azathioprine ; therapeutic use ; Calcineurin Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; immunology ; therapy ; Disease Management ; Food Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Patient Education as Topic ; Phototherapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore

Boiled silkworm pupa is a traditional food in Asia, and patients with silkworm pupa food allergy are common in these regions. Still now only one allergen from silkworm, arginine kinase, has been identified. The purpose of this study was to identify novel food allergens in silkworm pupa by analyzing a protein extract after heat treatment. Heat treated extracts were examined by proteomic analysis. A 27-kDa glycoprotein was identified, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. IgE reactivity of the recombinant protein was investigated by ELISA. High molecular weight proteins (above 100 kDa) elicited increased IgE binding after heat treatment compared to that before heat treatment. The molecular identities of these proteins, however, could not be determined. IgE reactivity toward a 27-kDa glycoprotein was also increased after heating the protein extract. The recombinant protein was recognized by IgE antibodies from allergic subjects (33.3%). Glycation or aggregation of protein by heating may create new IgE binding epitopes. Heat stable allergens are shown to be important in silkworm allergy. Sensitization to the 27-kDa glycoprotein from silkworm may contribute to elevation of IgE to silkworm.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens/*chemistry/*immunology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bombyx/*chemistry/genetics/growth & development/*immunology ; Epitopes/immunology ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/etiology ; Glycoproteins/*chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/immunology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Proteomics ; Pupa/chemistry/immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/immunology ; Sequence Alignment

With growing evidence of an increase in the prevalence, food allergy has been emerged as a new public health problem. As treatment and management of food allergy remain challenging, more attention has been paid to the importance of prevention of food allergy. Although the exact mechanism of recent epidemic is not fully understood, it is suggested that nutritional exposure in early life may play an important role in food allergy development. The underlying hypothesis is that nutritional status or food exposure in the critical period of fetal development can affect the programming of immune system and modify the risk of immunologic reactions to foods in postnatal life. We review accumulating epidemiological studies to examine an association between nutritional exposure during pregnancy or early infancy and food allergy development in children. We also discuss recent advances in the studies of the genetic and epigenetic regulation of food allergy and evaluate the role of early nutrition in food allergy development to provide a new perspective on the prevention of food allergy.
Allergens/*immunology ; Child ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; *Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immune System ; Infant ; *Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo establish a food allergy model in Brown Norway (BN) rats by gavage of ovalbumin (OVA) without any adjuvant, and to evaluate this model.

METHODSA total of 20 male BN rats aged 3 weeks were randomly divided into allergy group and control group (n=10 each). BN rats in the allergy group were given OVA 1 mg per day by gavage, and all the rats were treated for 41 days continuously. On day 42, the rats in the allergy group were given OVA 100 mg by gavage for challenge. The rats in the control group were given normal saline of the same volume by gavage. Differences in body length, body weight, and food intake were compared between the two groups on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. ELISA was used to measure the serum OVA-IgE level and plasma histamine level after challenge on day 42, and the changes in rats' appearance and fecal properties were observed. The model of food allergy was considered successful when the serum OVA-IgE level in the allergy group was no less than the mean serum OVA-IgE level + 3 standard deviation in the control group.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in body length, body weight or food intake between the allergy and control groups at all time points (P>0.05). On day 21, the control group had a significantly higher food intake than the allergy group (P<0.05). On day 42 after challenge, the allergy group showed significantly higher serum OVA-IgE and plasma histamine levels than the control group (P<0.05). The sensitization rate (rate of successful modeling) was 90%. The fecal properties showed no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOVA by gavage without any adjuvant can successfully establish the model of food allergy in BN rats and has a high success rate. Food allergy induced by OVA may reduce food intake within a short period of time, but no influence on rats' body length or body weight has been observed.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Food Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; immunology ; Histamine ; blood ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunoregulatory effect of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation by intraperitoneal injection in food-allergic young mice before and after ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization.

METHODSThirty-two 3-week-old female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control, allergic model, ADSC treatment, and ADSC prevention groups (n=8 each). A young mouse model of food allergy was established by OVA sensitization via intraperitoneal injection. Each mouse from the prevention and treatment groups was transplanted with 1×10(6) ADSCs on days 1 and 15 post-sensitization, respectively. The allergic symptoms of all groups were observed and scored. The jejunal villi and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum levels of allergy-related inflammatory cytokines were measured by Luminex.

RESULTSCompared with the allergic model group, the ADSC prevention and ADSC treatment groups had significantly reduced allergic symptom scores (P<0.05). The two groups also showed significantly alleviated allergic pathological damage of the jejunal mucosa. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22 and IL-23 were significantly lower in the ADSC prevention and treatment groups than in the allergic model group (P<0.05). However, the ADSC treatment group had a significantly increased serum interferon-γ level and a significantly reduced serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 level compared with the allergic model and ADSC prevention groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSADSC transplantation, performed before or after sensitization, has an immunoregulatory effect on food allergy in young Balb/c mice, but this effect is better if transplantation is performed after sensitization.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stem Cell Transplantation