Dispersion of horse allergen from stables and areas with horses into homes.

Background/aim: To protect susceptible subjects from exposure to horse allergen, a Swedish national report recommended a distance of at least 500 m between homes and stables and other areas with horses. The aim of this project was to study indoor and outdoor levels of horse allergen in relation to distance from stables and horse tracks.

Methods: Indoor and outdoor samples were collected with Petri dishes at 49 sites in different housing areas and near to a track for trotting horses.

Immunoglobulin G4-antibodies to rBet v 1 and risk of sensitization and atopic disease in the child.

Background: In 1993 extremely high levels of birch-pollen were recorded in Stockholm, Sweden. This provided an opportunity to evaluate the effects of aeroallergen exposure (exp.) on the early immune response.

Dispersion of horse allergen in the ambient air, detected with sandwich ELISA.

Background: The objective was to establish an ELISA to detect horse allergen in ambient air and settled dust.

Methods: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against extracts of horse antigen. Two mAbs were selected and used in a sandwich ELISA.

A case of allergy to cow's milk hydrolysate.

We here report a girl, now 3 years old, who has suffered from severe food allergy since her first year of life. She was strongly allergic to cow's milk, and had high levels of IgE antibody (AB) to casein (210 kU/I), beta-lactoglobulin (43 kU/I), and alpha-lactalbumin (23 kU/l) at 12 months of age. In addition, at the same age, she showed positive (2-4+) skin prick reactions to both unboiled and boiled formulas (Profylac, Nutramigen, and Neocate), besides being positive in RAST to Nutramigen (0.

IgG subclass antibody responses to birch pollen in sibling pairs discordant for atopy.

Birch pollen allergen specific IgG and IgE antibodies were analysed in the sera of fourteen sibling pairs discordant for atopy. In addition, eight unrelated children free of atopic disease were included in the study. The presence of Bet v 1 specific antibodies in the sera were analysed by an immunoblotting assay.

T-cell subsets in adenoids and peripheral blood related to age, otitis media with effusion and allergy.

Adenoids and peripheral blood samples from 29 children (20-120 months of age) undergoing adenoidectomy for long-standing otitis media with effusion (OME) (n=16) or obstructive adenoid hyperplasia (n=13) were investigated by flow cytometry for their T-lymphocyte profile. Eleven of the enrolled children were allergic to inhalant and/or food allergens. For the whole group, the percentage of helper T cells belonging to the memory phenotype (CD4+/CD45RO+ cells) was significantly higher in adenoids than in blood (p<0.

Cytokine production in PBMC from allergics and non-allergics following in vitro allergen stimulation.

Dysregulation of cytokine production in atopic individuals has previously been clearly demonstrated. In the present study we aimed to assess whether a prolonged in vitro exposure of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC) to allergen would result in a, by time, changed cytokine profile in allergic subjects. Blood was taken from 11 atopic asthmatic subjects and nine healthy non-atopic controls during the birch pollen season.

No signs of activity markers in peripheral blood despite increased bronchial reactivity after repeated low-dose allergen exposure.

The allergen inhalation test can be used as an experimental model to study pathophysiological events in allergic asthma. Repeated low-dose inhalations of allergen induce increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and resemble natural allergen exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether eosinophil recruitment and activation in peripheral blood, differences in expression of lymphocyte surface antigens and increased bronchial responsiveness to histamine occur during and after repeated low-dose bronchial allergen challenge.

Pityrosporum orbiculare-reactive T-cell lines in atopic dermatitis patients and healthy individuals.

The yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare is one of the factors that may contribute to atopic dermatitis (AD). In the present study we compared the T-cell response to P. orbiculare in 12 AD patients with specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies (Ab) in serum against P.

Increased allergen-specific Th2 responses in vitro in atopic subjects receiving subclinical allergen challenge.

The study aimed to determine whether inhalation of subclinical allergen doses-leads to a shift in the balance between T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells in asthmatic patients. Elevated IgE requires allergen-specific T cells producing cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-13. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) produced by Th1 cells counteracts the effects of IL-4.

Specific induction of interleukin-4-producing cells in response to in vitro allergen stimulation in atopic individuals.

Background And Objective: CD4+ T cells can be divided into two major subsets, T helper (TH)1 and TH2 cells. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is produced by TH2 cells and induces switching of immunoglobulin (Ig) M/IgG to IgE. Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) produced by TH1 cells counteracts the IgE-promoting effects of IL-4.

The complete cDNA sequence and expression of the first major allergenic protein of Malassezia furfur, Mal f 1.

For the first time the complete cDNA encoding a major allergen and novel protein of the yeast Malassezia furfur, Mal f 1, has been sequenced and expressed. The amino acid sequences of nine tryptic peptides of the protein were determined. Oligonucleotides were designed from these amino acid sequences.

Detection of Pityrosporum orbiculare reactive T cells from skin and blood in atopic dermatitis and characterization of their cytokine profiles.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with increased levels of serum IgE, and T-helper (Th) cells are thought to a play role in the pathogenesis. Individuals with AD often develop IgE antibodies against the yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare, a member of the normal cutaneous flora.

Objective: The role of P.

ELISA method for detection of mite allergens in barn dust: comparison with mite counts.

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) inhibition with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (42B6) to Lepidoglyphus destructor was used to detect and quantify the storage-mite allergens in 30 dust samples collected from barns. Regarding the mite fauna, microscopic inspection of the barn dust and mite counts showed that L. destructor infested all 30 barns investigated (range 430-195 400 mites/g dust).

Distribution of plasma cell markers and intracellular IgE in cell line U266.

The IgE-producing plasma cell line U266 was used to study intracellular IgE and the distribution of the plasma cell markers CD38 and PCA-1. We found two separate clusters of U266 based on the differences in their light scatter properties in the flow cytometer. One cluster displayed high scatter signals (high SS), whereas the other showed low scatter signals (low SS).

Influence of culture period on the allergenic composition of Pityrosporum orbiculare extracts.

Background: Previous characterization studies of Pityrosporum orbiculare allergens have led to contradictory results. In immunoblotting studies a range of IgE-binding proteins of 10-100 kDa have been identified. In another study, however, the IgE-binding structures were claimed to be associated with high-molecular-weight polysaccharides or glycoproteins, presumably mannans or mannoproteins.

Localization of major allergens in the dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor with confocal laser scanning microscopy.

The dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor is the dominating source of allergens giving rise to asthma and rhinitis among farmers. In a previous study of the localization of allergens in L. destructor we demonstrated that the 39 kDa allergen is associated with digestion.

IgG1 and IgG4 antibody responses to the dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor in a naturally exposed farming population.

The natural humoral immune response to the dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor was assessed by comparing the IgG1 and IgG4 responses elicited in allergic (n = 44) and healthy (n = 16) individuals in a farming population chronically exposed to this allergen. With the aid of an immunoblotting technique and ELISA, the sera were analyzed for anti-L. destructor antibodies.

Detection of at least one high-molecular-mass, IgE-binding component of the dust mite Lepidoglyphus destructor.

We studied the allergen composition in an extract of the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were raised against L. destructor by a standard hybridoma technique.

Identification of allergen components of the opportunistic yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare by monoclonal antibodies.

The yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare (P. orbiculare) is a member of the normal human cutaneous flora, but it is also associated with several clinical manifestations of the skin. We have previously observed IgE-binding components in P.

Dust mite allergy: an important cause of respiratory disease in farmers.

In 2,578 Swedish farmers, 6.2% were found to have an allergy to storage mites. The storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor has been identified by both RAST and bronchial challenges as a significant cause of occupational asthma in rural environments.

Occurrence of IgE antibodies against the 39-kDa allergen component of the mite Lepidoglyphus destructor in urban and rural subjects.

Several species of storage mite have been shown to cause IgE-mediated sensitization. Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) have been raised against the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor, and one mab (42B6) immunoprecipitated a band of 39 kDa of L. destructor.

Monoclonal antibodies to Lepidoglyphus destructor: delineation of crossreactivity between storage mites and house dust mites.

We have developed monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor (Ld). Employing these anti-Ld MoAbs Ld-MoAbs) in ELISA and ELISA inhibition techniques we have analysed the reaction pattern of Ld-MoAbs to both non-pyroglyphid and pyroglyphid mites. The storage mite Glycyphagus domesticus (Gd) exhibited most efficient inhibition, followed by Acarus siro (As), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and Euroglyphus maynei (Em).