A human IgE bispecific antibody shows potent cytotoxic capacity mediated by monocytes.

The generation of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) targeting two different antigens opens a new level of specificity and, compared to mAbs, improved clinical efficacy in cancer therapy. Currently, the different strategies for development of bsAbs primarily focus on IgG isotypes. Nevertheless, in comparison to IgG isotypes, IgE has been shown to offer superior tumor control in preclinical models.

Basophil-derived amphiregulin is essential for UVB irradiation-induced immune suppression.

UVB irradiation (290-320 nm) is used to treat skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and is known to suppress contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reactions in mouse models. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have been shown to be responsible for this UVB-induced suppression of CHS. The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor amphiregulin (AREG) engages EGFR on Treg cells and, in different disease models, it was shown that mast cell-derived AREG is essential for optimal Treg cell function in vivo.

Murine model for non-IgE-mediated asthma.

There is increasing evidence that inflammatory mechanisms other than atopy or eosinophilic inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. The mechanisms associated with non-atopic (non-IgE) or neutrophil-mediated asthma are poorly investigated. Non-atopic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness was induced in mice by skin sensitization with dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) followed by intra-airway challenge with dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNS).

The tachykinin NK1 receptor is crucial for the development of non-atopic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.

Mast cell activation, bronchoconstriction, inflammation and airway hyperreactivity are prominent features of non-atopic hypersensitivity reactions in mouse airways. We studied the role of tachykinin receptors in mice that were skin-sensitized with dinitrofluorobenzene (or vehicle) and challenged intranasally with dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Tachykinin NK1 receptor blockade, by treatment with the antagonist RP67580, or absence of the tachykinin NK1 receptor resulted in a strong reduction in the accumulation of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and in the development of tracheal hyperreactivity in mice 48 h after challenge.

Functional expression of neurokinin 1 receptors on mast cells induced by IL-4 and stem cell factor.

It is widely accepted that neurokinin 1 (NK(1)) receptors are not generally expressed on mast cells but little is known about their expression in inflammation. The present study shows expression of NK(1) receptors on bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) under the influence of IL-4 or stem cell factor (SCF). Highest expression was found when both cytokines are present.

Key role for mast cells in nonatopic asthma.

The mechanisms involved in nonatopic asthma are poorly defined. In particular, the importance of mast cells in the development of nonatopic asthma is not clear. In the mouse, pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions induced by skin sensitization with the low-m.

Mast cell-derived TNF-alpha primes sensory nerve endings in a pulmonary hypersensitivity reaction.

TNF-alpha is a cytokine associated with inflammatory diseases, including asthma. Increased levels of TNF-alpha were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of mice undergoing a dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced non-IgE-mediated pulmonary hypersensitivity reaction. We report in this work that TNF-alpha increases the susceptibility of sensory neurons to dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNS) and capsaicin, leading to a tracheal vascular hyperpermeability response in DNFB-sensitized and DNS-challenged mice.

Characterization of a phosphorylated peptide and peptoid and peptoid-peptide hybrids by mass spectrometry.

Nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (nano-ES-MS/MS) was used to record collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of a set of peptoid-peptide hybrids and the complete peptoid derived from the phosphopeptide Ac-pTyr-Glu-Thr-Leu-NH(2) (1). The presence of B and Y''-type fragment ions in the tandem mass spectra of the protonated molecular ions [M + H](+) allowed confirmation of sequence similar to mass spectrometric sequence analysis in peptides. In the isomeric peptoid compounds studied, one or several amino acid residues were replaced by peptoid residues (N-substituted glycine residues), which resulted in characteristic tandem mass spectra with differently increased relative abundances of Y''-and B-type fragment ions.