Allergen-specific B cell responses in oral immunotherapy-induced desensitization, remission, and natural outgrowth in cow's milk allergy.

Background: Antigen-specific memory B cells play a key role in the induction of desensitization and remission to food allergens in oral immunotherapy and in the development of natural tolerance (NT). Here, we characterized milk allergen Bos d 9-specific B cells in oral allergen-specific immunotherapy (OIT) and in children spontaneously outgrowing cow's milk allergy (CMA) due to NT.

Methods: Samples from children with CMA who received oral OIT (before, during, and after), children who naturally outgrew CMA (NT), and healthy individuals were received from Stanford biobank.

B cell immune response to human bocaviruses.

Background: Human bocaviruses (HBoVs) have been demonstrated in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections; however, the immune response to them has not been studied in detail. In this study, we investigated the B cell immune responses to HBoV1 and HBoV2, representing two different species of bocaviruses in humans.

Methods: We analyzed the effects of stimulations with HBoV1 and 2 virus-like particles (VLPs) and of co-stimulation with HBoV1-rhinovirus (RV) on cells of the immune system by flow cytometry, transcriptomics, and luminometric immune assays.

Histamine: A Mediator of Intestinal Disorders-A Review.

Within the gastrointestinal tract, histamine is present at relatively high concentrations, especially during inflammatory processes. Histamine is a biogenic amine with numerous effects on many cell types, mediated by the activation of its four different histamine receptors (H1-H4Rs). It is produced and released by immune cells as mast cells and basophils.

Trained immunity and tolerance in innate lymphoid cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells during allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Background: Despite the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), the role of trained immunity and tolerance in this process has not been elucidated.

Objective: Here, we have performed a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of the systemic innate immune cell repertoire during the course of AIT.

Methods: Patients with allergy received standard preseasonal subcutaneous AIT with allergoids to birch and/or grass.

Regulatory Immune Mechanisms in Tolerance to Food Allergy.

Oral tolerance can develop after frequent exposure to food allergens. Upon ingestion, food is digested into small protein fragments in the gastrointestinal tract. Small food particles are later absorbed into the human body.

The profile of respiratory pathogens in induced sputum of elderly and non-elderly asthmatics.

Introduction: Respiratory pathogens are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis and exacerbations of asthma at all ages; however, little is known about the airway microbiome in the elderly.

Aim Of The Study: To identify respiratory pathogens in the induced sputum (IS) of elderly asthmatics, and to determine the association between pathogens and the markers of asthma activity.

Material And Methods: Twenty-nine subjects with stable asthma, 15 above 65 years of age and 14 aged 30-49 years, underwent clinical evaluation, fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement, and sputum induction.

Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy: Diverse mechanisms of immune tolerance to allergens.

Objective: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy based on the recent publications and clinical trials.

Data Sources: PubMed literature review.

Study Selections: In this review, we focus on diverse mechanisms of AIT and provide an insight into alternative routes of administration.

Modified Allergens for Immunotherapy.

Purpose Of Review: During the past few decades, modified allergens have been developed for use in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) with the aim to improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects. This review aims to provide an overview of the different types of modified allergens, their mechanism of action and their potential for improving AIT.

Recent Findings: In-depth research in the field of allergen modifications as well as the advance of recombinant DNA technology have paved the way for improved diagnosis and research on human allergic diseases.

Innate Immune Response to Viral Infections in Primary Bronchial Epithelial Cells is Modified by the Atopic Status of Asthmatic Patients.

Purpose: In order to gain an insight into determinants of reported variability in immune responses to respiratory viruses in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) from asthmatics, the responses of HBEC to viral infections were evaluated in HBECs from phenotypically heterogeneous groups of asthmatics and in healthy controls.

Methods: HBECs were obtained during bronchoscopy from 10 patients with asthma (6 atopic and 4 non-atopic) and from healthy controls (n=9) and grown as undifferentiated cultures. HBECs were infected with parainfluenza virus (PIV)-3 (MOI 0.

Novel mechanisms in immune tolerance to allergens during natural allergen exposure and allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for more than 100 years as a clinical tolerance-inducing and immune tolerance-inducing therapy for allergic diseases and represents a potentially curative method of treatment. AIT functions through multiple mechanisms including early desensitization of basophils and mast cells, regulating T-cell and B-cell responses, changing antibody isotypes, and decreasing activation, mediator release and affected tissue migration of eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells. Similar molecular and cellular mechanisms have been observed in subcutaneous AIT, sublingual AIT and peptide immunotherapy as well as natural tolerance to high doses of allergen exposure in beekeepers and cat owners.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection influences tight junction integrity.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important risk factor of asthma development and is responsible for severe respiratory tract infections. However, the influence of RSV infection on barrier function of bronchial epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo is still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the role of RSV in tight junction (TJ) regulation and to compare epithelial integrity between asthmatic and healthy individuals upon RSV infection.

Innate lymphoid cells: the role in respiratory infections and lung tissue damage.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) represent a diverse family of cells of the innate immune system, which play an important role in regulation of tissue homeostasis, immunity and inflammation. Emerging evidence has highlighted the importance of ILCs in both protective immunity to respiratory infections and their pathological roles in the lungs. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge, interpret and integrate it into broader perspective, enabling greater insight into the role of ILCs in respiratory diseases.

Impaired virus replication and decreased innate immune responses to viral infections in nasal epithelial cells from patients with allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to assess the immune response to parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), rhinovirus 1B (RV1B) and intracellular Toll-like receptors (TLR) agonists in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) from patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy controls. NECs were obtained from eight patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 11 non-atopic healthy controls (HC) by nasal scraping, grown to confluence and exposed to PIV3, RV1B infection or TLR-3 and TLR-7/8 agonists. Interferon (IFN)-λ1, IFN-α, IFN-β and regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES) release into the cell culture supernatants was assessed at 8, 24 and 48 h upon infection or 8 and 24 h after stimulation with poly(I:C) and R848.

Role of regulatory B cells in immune tolerance to allergens and beyond.

Immune tolerance to both self-antigens and innocuous non-self-antigens is essential to protect the host against chronic inflammatory diseases and tissue damage. A wide range of cell types and suppressive molecules are involved in induction and maintenance of tolerance. In addition to their key function in the production of immunoglobulins, B cells can regulate immune responses through their surface molecules and secretion of cytokines.

Interleukins (from IL-1 to IL-38), interferons, transforming growth factor β, and TNF-α: Receptors, functions, and roles in diseases.

There have been extensive developments on cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune regulation in allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, tumor development, organ transplantation, and chronic infections during the last few years. Better understanding the functions, reciprocal regulation, and counterbalance of subsets of immune and inflammatory cells that interact through interleukins, interferons, TNF-α, and TGF-β offer opportunities for immune interventions and novel treatment modalities in the era of development of biological immune response modifiers particularly targeting these molecules or their receptors. More than 60 cytokines have been designated as interleukins since the initial discoveries of monocyte and lymphocyte interleukins (called IL-1 and IL-2, respectively).

Regulation of bronchial epithelial barrier integrity by type 2 cytokines and histone deacetylases in asthmatic patients.

Background: Tight junctions (TJs) form a barrier on the apical side of neighboring epithelial cells in the bronchial mucosa. Changes in their integrity might play a role in asthma pathogenesis by enabling the paracellular influx of allergens, toxins, and microbes to the submucosal tissue.

Objective: The regulation of bronchial epithelial TJs by T2 cells and their cytokines and their involvement in epigenetic regulation of barrier function were investigated.

MicroRNAs and the immune response to respiratory virus infections.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small ssRNA molecules, which are involved in gene expression regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Their biological functions include modulation of both innate and adaptive immune response. miRNAs participate in the maintenance of the airway epithelial barrier and are also implicated in the modulation of antiviral defense in epithelial cells.

The lack of L-PG production and the repercussions of it in regards to M. Tuberculosis interactions with mononuclear phagocytes.

The lysine connection with phosphatidylglycerol (PG) alters the M. tuberculosis(Mtb) surface charge, and consequently it may decrease the bacterial vulnerability to antimicrobial action of the immune cells. The aim of the study was to assess the significance of PG lysinylation in the Mtb interactions with mononuclear phagocytes.