Risk of wheezing associated with house-dust mite allergens and indoor air quality among three-year-old children. Kraków inner city study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the distribution of house-dust mite (HDM) allergens in homes of three-year-old children and to test the hypothesis whether the content of HDM allergens exceeding 2 microg/g of dust may be regarded as a risk level possibly affecting respiratory health in early childhood.

Materials And Methods: House-dust samples were collected in 275 dwellings from mattresses, children's bedrooms and kitchen floors. In the laboratory, dust samples were analyzed for Der f 1 and Der p 1 using monoclonal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Involvement of pattern recognition receptors in the induction of cytokines and reactive oxygen intermediates production by human monocytes/macrophages stimulated with tumour cells.

Background: Some ligands of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) are present on tumour cells. The role of PRR in signalling for cytokine and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) production by monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) stimulated with tumour cells was studied.

Materials And Methods: Monocytes/MDM were pretreated with PRR ligands or anti-PRR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and stimulated with tumour cells.

Antitumor response of CD14+/CD16+ monocyte subpopulation.

Objective: Two main subpopulations of human blood monocytes are distinguished on the basis of CD14 and CD16 expression: the major population with enhanced expression of CD14 (CD14++ monocytes) and the minor one with a weak expression of CD14 coexpressing CD16 (CD14+/CD16+ monocytes). As monocytes and macrophages are involved in antitumor response of the host, we assessed the ability of CD14+/CD16+ monocytes to produce cytokines (intracellular expression, release) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen (ROI, RNI) intermediates following stimulation in vitro with tumor cells.

Materials And Methods: Monocytes were isolated by elutriation and their subpopulations by FACS sorting.

Extracellular matrix proteins modulate cytokine production by monocytes during their interactions with cancer cells.

Background: This study examined the role of extracellular matrix compounds (EMC) in the alteration of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) production by human monocytes stimulated with cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: Monocytes were cultured with cancer cells in the absence or presence of EMC and cytokine release was measured by ELISA. In some experiments monocytes preincubated with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD29 and CD44 were used.