[Recombinant allergens: diagnostic use and therapeutic perspectives].

Techniques of genetic engineering applied to allergens have enabled the production of recombinant allergens. The validation of recombinant allergens implies that their immunological activity and their identity with natural allergens might be confirmed by in vitro and in vivo techniques carried out on a sufficiently large number of allergic subjects. Currently available results for the principal pneumoallergens are reported.

[Incidence of sensitization to profilin in a population allergic to pollen: responsibility of profilin in pollen polysensitizations in patients with a normal level of total IgE].

Unlabelled: The study had the aim of establishing the incidence of sensitization to profilin (a panallergen found in pollens and foods of vegetal origin) in pollen-allergic patients. We evaluated the consequences of such sensitizations on the results of specific IgE, the positivity of skin tests and clinical signs.

Methods: 94 consenting patients, allergic to pollens (trees and/or grasses and/or weeds) replied to a questionnaire and had skin tests to purified profilin and measurement of serum anti-profilin IgE.

Urinary eosinophil-derived neurotoxin/protein X: a simple method for assessing eosinophil degranulation in vivo.

Background: Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin/protein X (EDN/EPX), one of the cationic granule proteins released by polymorphonuclear eosinophils, can be detected in human urine.

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether the urinary release of EDN/EPX was dependent on the blood eosinophil cell count, the bronchoalveolar eosinophil cell count, or both and on the clinical diagnosis. We also attempted to determine the precise kinetics of decrease of EDN excretion and eosinophil counts after the onset of corticosteroid treatment.

Skin testing with recombinant allergens rBet v 1 and birch profilin, rBet v 2: diagnostic value for birch pollen and associated allergies.

Objective: This study assesses the value of two recombinant birch allergens for diagnosis of patients sensitized to birch pollen with or without associated food allergy.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with positive skin test responses to Betulaceae and seven nonallergic control subjects were investigated; specific IgE antibodies were evaluated by specific immunoassay and blot immunodetection.

Results: Among 51 patients, 47 reacted to rBet v 1 and 10 to rBet v 2.

[Prevalence of ragweed hayfever in the south and east of the greater Lyon region in 1993].

In December 1993, AFEDA conducted an epidemiological survey in order to establish the prevalence of ragweed-induced pollinosis and to evaluate how well the public was informed about this danger. A survey by telephone was made, taking a random sample of the population drawn by lot from telephone directories in the Rhône district. This involved about 300,000 homes.

[Natural allergens and recombinant allergens].

Since forty years, many allergens from different species responsible for allergies, have been purified and sometimes identified using classical methods of protein chemistry. For the first time in 1988, molecular biology technologies were applied to allergens, namely to a major allergen of the mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. During the recent years many other allergens have been produced as recombinant proteins expressed in bacteria or yeast leading to the growing family of recombinant allergens.

Expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemias. Comparison with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and non-neoplastic lymphoid tissue.

The expression of certain cell cycle regulatory proteins: cdk1, cdk2, cdk4, cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin E, Bcl2 and PCNA was examined in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 25 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL) in order to analyze a possible cell cycle involvement of CLL lymphocytes. For comparison, we also studied the expression of these proteins in: 23 samples of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) tissue of different histological types, 10 samples of non-neoplastic lymphoid tissue (NLT), non-stimulated PBL (NS-PBL) and PHA-stimulated PBL (PHA-PBL) from three healthy donors. Samples were lysed and proteins were resolved on polyacrylamide gel followed by Western blot.

First report of anaphylactic reaction after fig (Ficus carica) ingestion.

We report an anaphylactic reaction which occurred very shortly after ingestion of a fresh fig. The IgE-dependent mechanism was demonstrated on the basis of positivity of the prick test performed with fresh fig (Ficus carica) extract. In addition, we were able to detect specific IgE to the same extract in the serum.

Cdk1 is a marker of proliferation in human lymphoid cells.

To better understand the relationship between the proliferation of human lymphoid cells and the expression of cdk1, a catalytic subunit of the histone H1 kinase (H1K), we examined its mRNA and protein content in 3 B-cell lines: Ramos, Reh-6 and IARC 963. Cells were elutriated according to their position in the cell cycle. Cell fractions were analyzed for cdk1 mRNA and protein cellular content by Northern blot and immunoblot, respectively, as well as for H1K activity.

Identification of profilin as an IgE-binding component in latex from Hevea brasiliensis: clinical implications.

Considering the high occurrence of profilin as an allergen in many plant species, the assumption was made that profilin might be an allergen in Hevea brasiliensis, a member of the latex producing Euphorbiaceae family. Using IgE-binding inhibition by purified profilins we demonstrated that profilin is an IgE-binding component in the cytosolic fraction of natural latex and, to a lower extent, in the rubber fraction. Thirty-five out of 36 sera containing IgE to ragweed-profilin reacted with profilin from latex, indicating structural homologies between profilins from latex and ragweed.

Purification and characterization of the N-terminal domain of galectin-4 from rat small intestine.

Using affinity chromatography on lactose-agarose, five beta-galactoside binding lectins of 14 to 20 kDa were detected in the rat small intestinal mucosa. The prominant proteins of 17 and 19 kDa were purified to homogeneity by 2D-electrophoresis. Direct N-terminal sequencing of the 17 kDa protein and intrachain sequencing of the 19 kDa protein produced sequences which are part of the N-terminal domain of the L-36/galectin-4.

Identification of profilin as an actin-binding protein in higher plants.

Profilin is a low molecular weight protein involved in the organization of the mammalian and protozoan cytoskeleton as well as in signal transduction. In this study, profilin is identified as an actin-binding protein in higher plants which is present in monocot and dicot angiosperms. Birch pollen profilin and actin can be copurified as a complex, and purified recombinant birch profilin can be used as an affinity matrix to obtain birch pollen actin.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 US11 gene product is a phosphorylated protein found to be non-specifically associated with both ribosomal subunits.

Microsequencing of a cyanogen bromide peptide obtained from a basic phosphoprotein co-sedimenting with purified ribosomes extracted from herpes simplex virus type 1-infected human epidermoid carcinoma 2 cells identified this protein as a product of the true late US11 gene. An antibody was raised against a recombinant fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli from a plasmid carrying 75% of the US11 coding sequence including the carboxy terminus. This antibody was used to probe Western blots carried out under various conditions of one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Purification and characterization of an allergen from celery immunochemically related to an allergen present in several other plant species. Identification as a profilin.

The purification of a 15 kD allergen from celery was obtained by a four step procedure. Evidence for at least two isoallergenic forms was obtained after analysis by two-dimensional-electrophoresis. A rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against this purified allergen allowed us to confirm our precedent results on the occurrence of allergenically and molecular mass-related components in celery and birch and mugwort pollens.

[Biological and clinical prevalence of pollinosis caused by ragweeds of the upper valley of the Rhône corridor].

An epidemiological study of ragweed allergy was conducted on 646 employees belonging to 6 factories located in the Rhone valley south of the city of Lyon. Information on seasonal evocative clinical symptoms was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Biological prevalence was assessed by measuring anti-ragweed IgE specific antibodies.

Profilins constitute a novel family of functional plant pan-allergens.

Type I allergy is a major health problem in industrialized countries where up to 15% of the population suffer from allergic symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma). Previously, we identified a cDNA clone that encoded a birch pollen allergen as profilin. Profilins constitute a ubiquitous family of proteins that control actin polymerization in eukaryotic cells; in particular, profilin participates in the acrosomal reaction of animal sperm cells.

Anti TSH-receptor antibodies in pregnant patients with autoimmune thyroid disorder.

The study was designed to test further the usefulness of the radioreceptor assay of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) binding inhibitory immunoglobulins (TBII) and the bioassay of thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) or TSH stimulated cAMP response inhibitory antibodies (TBkAb) in the prediction of neonatal thyroid dysfunction. Of 63 pregnant women with a current or past history of autoimmune thyroid disorder, 11 (one with active and six with a past history of Graves' disease and four with autoimmune thyroiditis) gave birth to a baby with transient hyper or hypo-thyroidism. Only high maternal titres (which could persist after partial thyroidectomy) of anti TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) led to neonatal hyperthyroidism.

A study of allergens in celery with cross-sensitivity to mugwort and birch pollens.

Sixty-one sera with positive RAST to mugwort pollen (Artemisiae vulgaris) were submitted to RASTs for birch pollen (Betula verrucosa) and celery (Apium graveolens). In 36 cases RAST results were positive for celery. In addition, 23 sera presented specific IgE to birch pollen.

[Correlation between the atmospheric level of antigen Amb-al (AgE) and the number of Ambrosia artemisiaefolia pollen grains in Lyon and neighboring regions].

Accurate quantitation of the atmospheric levels of pollens and other allergenic particulate is laborious and may not always correlate with the concentration of allergen within the particulate. This study examined the atmospheric contamination by short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiae folia) over 7 weekly periods during ragweed pollination in 6 localities of France centered around Lyon. The correlation between data obtained from the conventional microscopic numeration of pollen grain and and the quantitation of the allergen Amb-al level by radioimmunoassay was investigated.

[Rules concerning allergy to celery (and other Umbellifera)].

1. Allergy to celery is associated with a pollinosis. Even if there are no overt symptoms of the pollinosis there are positive tests, including RAST.

Corticotropin and angiotensin induce dephosphorylation of a Mr-20,000 protein in bovine adrenal cells.

ACTH (1-24) and Angiotensin II, both able to activate steroidogenesis in bovine fasciculata-reticularis cells, each reduced the [32P] incorporation in a cytosolic Mr-20,000 pI 6.8 protein in this cell. Cells preincubated with Sar1-Angiotensin prevented the effect of Angiotensin.