[Anticytokine therapy of allergic asthma].

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by episodes of shortness of breath, expiratory dyspnea, cough, wheezing, and pulmonary emphysema. At the present time, asthma is a global public health problem and affects about 5% of the worldwide population. Although a wide range of anti-inflammatory drugs is available, uncontrolled or poorly controlled asthma is still a problem, requiring the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

RNA INTERFERENCE: NEW APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC ASTHMA (A REVIEW).

Asthma is among the most common chronic disorders of airways, which affects both children and adults. Asthma being a common disease among different segments of population, it has a high mortality rate and, in the absence of appropriate care, affects the quality of life and leads to economics losses. In a view of continuing growth in the incidence of asthma, it is important to find relevant biological targets for developing new approaches to astma therapy.

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy with Monomeric Allergoid in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread and difficult to treat allergic skin disease and is a tough challenge for healthcare. In this study, we investigated whether allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) with a monomeric allergoid obtained by succinylation of ovalbumin (sOVA) is effective in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. An experimental model of AD was reproduced by epicutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA).

Small interfering RNAs targeted to interleukin-4 and respiratory syncytial virus reduce airway inflammation in a mouse model of virus-induced asthma exacerbation.

Asthma exacerbations are caused primarily by viral infections. Antisense and small interfering RNA (siRNA) technologies have gained attention as potential antiasthma and antiviral approaches. In this study we analyzed whether gene silencing of interleukin (IL)-4 expression and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replication by RNA interference is able to suppress allergen- and virus-induced responses in a mouse model of virus-induced asthma exacerbation.

[Histamine releasing and immunomodulating activity of dental restorative materials].

Histamine releasing and immunomodulating activity of the following dental restorative materials (DRM) - Prizmafil, Filtek Z250, XRV Herculite Prodigy, Glasiosite, Te-Econol, Valux Plus, Polofil Supra were studied. It was shown that DRM under study as a rule did not possess the ability to release histamine (H) from human blood basophile (BB) excluding Filtek Z250 which release H from BB in patients with allergy and sound donors. The studied DRM implanted under mouse skin were able to modulate immune response to the allergen, at that some of them increased antibodies of IgE-class forming and other suppressed immune response caused by IgG-antibody forming.

[Histamine releasing activity of dental materials as the indicator of their biocompatibility].

Different types of dental materials (DM) were studied for their capacity to release histamine in vitro from basophils of whole blood of allergic patients and healthy donors using automated and computerized glass fiber-based leukocyte histamine release test (LHRT). It was shown that some types of DM possessed ability to release histamine from basophils and some didn't. There were no differences in histamine releaseability from basophils obtained from allergic patients and healthy donors.

[Immunomodulating activity of dental materials used for filling of dental root canals].

In experiments on mice immunomodulating activity of root canal pastes (Septodent, Foredent and Sealite Regular) was studied concerning immune response to model allergen. In order to study immunomodulating effect of root canal pastes the authors have used the model of standardized immunization by model allergen ovalbumin (OA) of mice (CBA x C57BL/6)F1. OA (Sigma) was used as model allergen in all experiments both for mice immunization and for testing anti-OA IgE- and IgG-antibodies in reaction of passive skin anaphylaxis in rats and in reaction ELISA.

[Histamine-releasing activity of dental materials employed as root canal filling].

Four samples of dental materials (DM) estd for root canal filling, Septodent (S), Zinkoxide (Z), Foredent (F) and Cialite Regular (CR), were studied for their ability in vitro to release histamine (HR) employing the computerized fiber glass based histamine release assay using whole blood from allergic patients and healthy donors. It was found that F induced high and S low levels of HR from blood basophils from both allergic and non-allergic subjects. Z and CR did not induce HR from blood basophils similar to the negative control.

[Histamine-releasing activity of acrylic plastic materials].

The histamine-releasing activity of acrylic plastics (ftorax, stomacryl, ethacryl) used for denture making and maxillofacial prostheses was studied by automated and computer-aided fiber glass method for evaluating histamine release from whole blood basophils. The results indicate that some plastics made by the thermo-polymerization method (for example, ethacryl) are characterized by higher histamine-releasing activity than the plastics made by polymerization using superhigh frequency electromagnetic energy. The method is recommended for preliminary screening of new polymers intended for dentistry and for individual selection of materials with consideration for their safety and strength characteristics.

Prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in hospital personnel in Russia and eastern Europe.

Background: Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during the past 10 years, especially in many health care workers (HCWs) who have high exposure to latex allergens. The prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and eastern Europe is unknown.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to natural rubber latex in a population of HCWs exposed to latex.

Latex aeroallergen quantification in hospitals of Moscow, Russia.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) who use latex gloves regularly are at a significant risk for developing allergic sensitization to natural rubber latex (NRL) proteins. The airborne route of exposure presents a hazard for sensitization and subsequent allergic symptoms.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the content of the NRL proteins in the air of work areas (laboratories, treatment rooms, operating rooms, examination rooms, and dentist's treatment rooms) in eight Moscow hospitals where the employees used powdered latex gloves.

Effect of misoprostol on the secretion of histamine from basophils of whole blood.

Background: Misoprostol (MSP), the synthetic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analog, possesses multifunctional features, including modulating some inflammatory aspects of immune and allergic disorders.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of MSP on histamine release (HR) from basophils of whole blood using anti-IgE, specific allergens, and calcium ionophore.

Methods: The study was performed using the automated glass fiber-based whole blood leukocyte histamine release test (LHRT).

Assessment of IgE allergen specificity among latex-allergic health care workers: review of IgE-binding components of various latex extracts.

Background: Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during the past 10 years, especially in many health care workers who have high exposure to latex allergens both by direct skin contact and by inhalation of latex particles from powdered gloves. Development of satisfactory diagnostic methods to verify the presence of latex allergy in health care workers requires characterization of the immunoreactive proteins in latex products and identification of specific IgE antibodies in sensitized patients. A number of different latex preparations are now available for in vitro evaluations.

[Chemical modification of allergen leading to changes in its epitopic activity].

Modification of a model allergen ovalbumin (OA) with succinylation led to a decrease of its allergenicity measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction, RAST inhibition assay and basophil histamine release. Modified OA stimulated OA-specific T-cell hybrid 3DO-548 to produce IL-2 at the same level as in case of non-modified OA. Modified OA did not induce anti-OA IgE, but did induce anti-OA IgG antibodies.

In vivo and in vitro immunomodulation induced by the extract of the mycelium fungus Polyporus squamosus.

The mycelial mass of the fungus Polyporus Squamosus strain 64 (PS-64) was disintegrated by mechanical and ultrasound treatments. After centrifugation, the supernatant containing the disintegrate was dialyzed and lyophilized. The resultant PS-64 extract was subsequently investigated as an immunomodulator of IgE and IgG responses to ovalbumin (OA) in (CBAxC57BL/6)F1 mice using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

Modulation of Basophil Histamine Release and T Cell Reactivity by Chemically Modified Allergen.

Modification of a model allergen ovalbumin (OA) with succinylation (Suc-OA) led to inhibition of allergen histamine releasing activity as it was tested on basophils of OA-sensitive patients. A whole blood leukocyte histamine release was performed by glass fibre based histamine assay. IgE-binding activity of Suc-OA was significantly reduced as it was shown by RAST inhibition technique.

Immunological properties of allergen chemically modified with synthetic copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and maleic anhydride.

Several conjugates of model allergen ovalbumin (OA) and the copolymer of N-vinyl pyrrolidone and maleic anhydride (VMA) modified with epsilon-aminocaproic acid (Acp) were prepared in different OA/Acp-VMA ratios. All conjugates were separated by ultrafiltration and analyzed by HPLC. Their compositions were determined by amino acid analysis and UV spectrometry.

Modified allergen immunotherapy: effect on immunoglobulin E production.

New forms of allergen immunotherapy are proposed employing modified allergens that induce T-cell responses without associated increased IgE-related responses. Synthetic polyelectrolytes attached to an analyte amy modulate T- and B-cell function, producing effective desensitization and altering immunoglobulin production dependent on the physico-chemical nature of the carrier molecule.