Peanut epitopes for IgE and IgG4 in peanut-sensitized children in relation to severity of peanut allergy.

Background: Better understanding of the relationship between antibody response to peanut and clinical sensitivity might lead to more accurate prognostication.

Objective: We sought to investigate peanut-specific IgE and IgG4 epitope diversity in relation to challenge-defined clinical sensitivity to peanut in a group of peanut-sensitized children.

Methods: Clinical sensitivity was determined by means of double-blind, placebo-controlled peanut challenges in 24 sensitized children.

IgE and IgG4 epitope mapping by microarray immunoassay reveals the diversity of immune response to the peanut allergen, Ara h 2.

Background: Detailed assessment of antibody responses to allergens reveals clinically relevant information about both host response and antigen structure. Microarray technology offers advantages of scale and parallel design over previous methods of epitope mapping.

Objective: We designed a redundant peptide microarray for IgE and IgG4 epitope mapping of the previously characterized peanut allergen, Ara h 2.

Dopamine type 2 receptor expression and function in rodent sensory neurons projecting to the airways.

Agonists of the dopamine receptors have been demonstrated to have bronchodilatory properties in pathologically constricted airways. The mechanism by which these agonists induce bronchodilatation is thought to involve airway sensory nerves. In this study, the expression and function of dopamine D(2) receptor were examined in sensory ganglia supplying the airways.