Detection of IgE anti-parvovirus antibodies in human breast milk.

Breast milk is a complex fluid, rich in nutrients and non-nutritional bioactive components, including antimicrobial factors, immunoglobulins, cytokines, and anti-inflammatory substances. Although IgE is implicated in viral immunity, its role in breast milk in parvovirus B19 immunity has not been studied. Total immunoglobulin levels of IgE, IgG, and IgE anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies were determined by ELISA and Western blot analysis in breast milk and in sera from a mother and her nursing infant (female, 10 mo).

Small-interference RNA gene knockdown of pancreatitis-associated proteins in rat acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: Pancreatitis-associated proteins (PAPs) are induced in acute pancreatitis and antisense-mediated gene knockdown of PAP decreased PAP gene expression and worsened pancreatitis. Here, we investigated the effect of a more stable inhibition of PAP using small-interference RNA gene knockdown in vitro and in an in vivo model of experimental pancreatitis.

Methods: Pancreatitis-associated protein-specific siRNA was administered to AR42J cell cultures or rats induced with pancreatitis.

Effect of minocycline and doxycycline on IgE responses.

Background: We have recently found that the tetracycline minocycline suppresses inflammatory responses in serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E-positive asthmatic patients, and that IgE levels can decrease in these patients. The mechanism by which minocycline suppresses these responses is unknown.

Objective: We have now investigated the ability of the tetracyclines, minocycline and doxycycline, to regulate IgE responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from serum IgE-positive asthmatic patients.