Aluminum sulfate significantly reduces the skin test response to common allergens in sensitized patients.

Background: Avoidance of allergens is still recommended as the first and best way to prevent allergic illnesses and their comorbid diseases. Despite a variety of attempts there has been very limited success in the area of environmental control of allergic disease. Our objective was to identify a non-invasive, non-pharmacological method to reduce indoor allergen loads in atopic persons' homes and public environments.

Vaccinia virus complement control protein ameliorates collagen-induced arthritic mice.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficiency of recombinant vaccinia virus complement control protein (rVCP) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA-1/J mice. Arthritis was induced in DBA-1J mice by injecting bovine collagen emulsified in complete Freunds adjuvant. We used rVCP to block complement activation and investigated its effect on different aspects of CIA including osteoclast formation and bone destruction.

Modulation of gamma interferon-induced major histocompatibility complex class II gene expression by Porphyromonas gingivalis membrane vesicles.

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-induced endothelial cells actively participate in initiating immune responses by interacting with CD4(+) T cells via class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) surface glycoproteins. Previously, Porphyromonas gingivalis membrane vesicles were shown to selectively inhibit IFN-gamma-induced surface expression of HLA-DR molecules by human umbilical cord vascular endothelial cells. In this study, we demonstrated an absence of HLA-DR alpha mRNA from IFN-gamma-induced cells in the presence of P.