Cirrhotic patients (CPs) are susceptible to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Aim of this study was to examine if this susceptibility was related to peritoneal macrophages' (PMs) altered host defence. Absorbance of phagocytosed particles by PMs from CPs was lower than that of control (31.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and eczema are increasing in prevalence worldwide, in particular in industrialised countries affecting up to 20% of the population. Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) have been shown to be critical in T-cell homeostasis and in the maintenance of immune responses, such as prevention of autoimmunity and hampering allergic diseases. The so-called 'natural' CD4+CD25+ Tregs and/or IL-10-producing Tr1 cells have been shown to be responsible for the protection of immune tolerance and intact immune reactions following exposure to allergens such as aeroallergens or food allergens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, and eczema are increasing in prevalence and affect about 15% of the population in countries such as the UK or USA. Regulatory T cells (T(Regs)) have been shown to be critical in the maintenance of immune responses and T cell homeostasis. For example, depletion of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Regs) from mice resulted in the development of multiorgan autoimmune diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHybridization is the formation of hybrid nucleic acid molecules with complementary nucleotide sequences in DNA:DNA, DNA:RNA, or RNA:RNA forms. In situ hybridization is a highly sensitive technique that allows detection and localization of specific DNA or RNA molecules in morphologically preserved isolated cells, histological tissue sections, or chromosome preparations. In situ hybridization has broad range of applications and has been used to (a) localize viral infection, (b) identify sites of gene expression, (c) analyze mRNA transcription and tissue distribution, and (d) map gene sequences in chromosomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in controlling allergic inflammation. The transcription factor Foxp3 regulates the development and function of natural and adaptive CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells.
Objectives: We sought to examine the effect of grass pollen injection immunotherapy on the numbers of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) and Foxp3(+)CD25(+) T cells in and out of season and their expression of IL-10 in the nasal mucosa of patients with hay fever.
The efficacy of allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with or without seasonal bronchial asthma and anaphylaxis caused by the sting of the hymenoptera class of insects has been clearly demonstrated in numerous well-designed, placebo-controlled trials. Immunotherapy whether by subcutaneous injection of allergen extract or by oral/sublingual routes modifies peripheral and mucosal TH2 responses in favour of TH1 responses and augments IL-10 synthesis by TRegs both locally and by peripheral T cells. Recent researches into the cellular and molecular basis of allergic reactions have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms involved in allergic diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergen immunotherapy (IT) has long-term efficacy in IgE-mediated allergic rhinitis and asthma. IT has been shown to modify lymphocyte responses to allergen, inducing IL-10 production and IgG Abs. In contrast, a putative role for IgA and local TGF-beta-producing cells remains to be determined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Allergy Clin Immunol
March 2006
Background IL-9 is an important stimulus for tissue infiltration by mast cells, a feature requiring concomitant activation of c-Kit. Objectives We assessed IL-9 expression and c-Kit + mast cells in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis during seasonal pollen exposure and observed the effects of allergen immunotherapy. Methods We studied 44 patients with seasonal rhinitis and asthma before and 2 years after a double-blind trial of grass pollen immunotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpecific allergen injection immunotherapy is highly effective in IgE-mediated diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and venom anaphylaxis. Immunotherapy inhibits both early and late responses to allergen exposure. Immunotherapy is accompanied by increases in allergen-specific IgG, particularly the IgG4 isotype, which blocks not only IgE-dependent histamine release from basophils but also IgE-mediated antigen presentation to T cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFT regulatory cells and IL-10 have been implicated in the mechanism of immunotherapy in patients with systemic anaphylaxis following bee stings. We studied the role of IL-10 in the induction of clinical, cellular, and humoral tolerance during immunotherapy for local mucosal allergy in subjects with seasonal pollinosis. Local and systemic IL-10 responses and serum Ab concentrations were measured before/after a double-blind trial of grass pollen (Phleum pratense, Phl P) immunotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy
March 2003
Over the last decades the prevalence of allergic disorders, such as hayfever and asthma has increased worldwide, mostly in westernised countries where up to 20 % of the population are affected. The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that modernised lifestyles such as improved housing conditions, altered dietary habits and smaller family sizes may be responsible for the decrease in infectious and the increase in allergic diseases. Childhood atopic diseases, like eczema, food allergies and recurrent wheezy bronchitis represent a considerable health problem and a major socioeconomic burden due to the chronicity of these disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe studied the regulation of CCR4 expression in peripheral blood and in human models of cutaneous and pulmonary allergen challenge. CCR4 expression was detectable on freshly isolated CD4+ lymphocytes and in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lines derived from blood of atopic donors. Numbers of CCR4+ cells were up-regulated in T cell lines expanded in the presence of IL-4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGrass pollen immunotherapy is the only treatment for hayfever that is both effective and confers long-term benefit. Immunotherapy may act by altering the local nasal mucosal T helper type 2 (Th2) to type 1 (Th1) cytokine balance either by down-regulation and/or immune deviation of T-lymphocyte responses. There is controversy as to whether these changes are detectable in peripheral blood.
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