Histamine type 2 receptor expression on peripheral blood regulatory lymphocytes in patients with allergic rhinitis treated with specific immunotherapy.

Background: Both histamine H1- and H2-receptors (H2R) were found on regulatory T (Treg) cells; however, there is a paucity of information regarding the role of H2R in Treg function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of natural allergen stimulation and specific immunotherapy (SIT) on H2R expression in Treg cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 41 patients with AR were screened for 1 year and treated with SIT (n = 21) or placebo (n = 20) for the next 2 years.

Expression of IL-7 receptor in human peripheral regulatory T cells.

Introduction: Regulatory T cells (Tregs, CD4 + CD25(high) Foxp3(+)) play a crucial role in allergy and other inflammatory diseases. However, the isolation of viable Tregs on the basis of intracellular expression of specific Forkhead Box Protein P3 (Foxp3) is difficult. In this study we checked if the expression of IL-7 receptor (CD127) on the Tregs could be a useful marker for isolation of viable Treg Foxp3(+) cells.

Orally exhaled nitric oxide in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during natural pollen season.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is the endogenous molecule involved in regulatory, protective, and defensive mechanisms. Although exhaled NO (ENO) has been used to monitor patients with asthma, possible usage of ENO in allergic rhinitis (AR) still needs to be evaluated. The authors wanted to determine the levels of NO exhaled orally both out of the pollen season and during the natural pollen exposure in patients with AR without asthma.

Intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with common variable immunodeficiency disease: an open-label prospective study.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by humoral immunodeficiency resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and diminished responses to protein and polysaccharide vaccines. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIgs) constitute a replacement therapeutic regimen for CVID and other primary and selected secondary immunodeficiencies but their mode of action is still not fully understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of IVIg replacement therapy on the population of regulatory T cells (cells expressing CD4, CD25 and low levels of CD127) [T(regs)]), plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, and expression of fragment, crystallizable γ receptor IIb (Fc γ RIIb) [CD32b] on CD19+ B cells in CVID patients.

[Mechanism of action of immunoglobulin applied intravenously].

Intravenously applied immunoglobulin (IVIg) are used in medicine over 50 years. Beneficial effects of IVIg therapy have been described in the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and new applications are still searched. Nevertheless, the mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of antibodies have not been exactly known.

Monocyte response receptors in BCG driven delayed type hypersensitivity to tuberculin.

Tuberculosis (TB) still remains the leading cause of mortality due to bacterial pathogen. The only currently available vaccine against TB, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is at best credited with a 50% overall protective efficacy. Skin testing with purified protein derivative (PPD) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the method of detecting BCG-induced cell mediated immunity, in vivo.