Genetic parameters and predicted selection results for maternal traits related to lactation efficiency in sows.

The increased productivity of sows increases the risk of a more pronounced negative energy balance during lactation. One possibility to prevent this is to increase the lactation efficiency (LE) genetically and thereby increase milk output for a given feed intake and mobilization of body tissue. The benefits of selection for LE depend on its heritability and the relationships with other traits of interest.

Cyclosporin A treatment is associated with increased serum immunoglobulin E levels in a subgroup of atopic dermatitis patients.

Cyclosporin A is increasingly used in the treatment of severe refractory atopic dermatitis. Although cyclosporin A treatment is highly efficacious and relatively safe, we report four adult atopic dermatitis (AD) patients who deteriorated during long-term cyclosporin A treatment, with clinical signs and symptoms more severe than at the onset of treatment. Interestingly, these patients showed large increases of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, paralleled by increasing disease severity and serum levels of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine.

Children with peanut allergy recognize predominantly Ara h2 and Ara h6, which remains stable over time.

Background: In peanut-allergic adults, IgE is mainly directed to Ara h1 and Ara h2. More recently, a role for Ara h6 has been suggested. In contrast to adults, IgE in children can fluctuate over time.

Maintenance of tolerance to cow's milk in atopic individuals is characterized by high levels of specific immunoglobulin G4.

Background: The central role of specific IgE in cow's milk allergy (CMA) is well documented. However, less is known about the function of other immunoglobulin isotypes in allergy and tolerance to cow's milk proteins (CMPs).

Objective: To determine differences in the antibody responses that are associated with allergy and tolerance to cow's milk in allergic, atopic and non-atopic individuals of different age groups.

TNF trafficking to human mast cell granules: mature chain-dependent endocytosis.

Mast cells play a crucial role at the early stages of immune response against bacteria and parasites where their functionality is based on their capability of releasing highly bioactive compounds, among them TNF. Mast cells are considered the only cells storing preformed TNF, which allows for the immediate release of this cytokine upon contact with pathogens. We approached the question of mechanisms and amino acid motifs directing newly synthesized TNF for storage in cytoplasmic granules by analyzing the trafficking of a series of TNF-enhanced GFP fusion proteins in human mast cell lines HMC-1 and LAD2.

Probiotics have a different immunomodulatory potential in vitro versus ex vivo upon oral administration in children with food allergy.

Background: Previous studies suggest that administration of probiotics in vitro can stimulate regulatory and Th1 immune responses. We studied both the in vitro immunological effects of probiotics and the ex vivo immunological effects after oral administration of probiotics in children with food allergy, a Th2-mediated disease.

Methods: Thirteen children were enrolled.

Role of human leucocyte antigen DQ in the presentation of T cell epitopes in the major cow's milk allergen alphas1-casein.

Background: Little is known about the association between human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and cow's milk allergy (CMA). The aim of the present study was to determine the HLA restriction of T cell clones (TCCs) specific to alphas1-casein, the most abundant milk protein, and to study possible HLA class II allele associations with CMA.

Methods: alphas1-Casein-specific TCCs were derived from 6 children with CMA, 9 atopic children without CMA and 5 non-atopic children.

The interleukin-10 inducing effect of transforming growth factor-beta on human naive CD4+ T cells from cord blood is restricted to the TH1 subset.

Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) seems to play a role in the regulation of immune responses, mainly by its suppressive function towards cells of the immune system. However, both in mice and human, conflicting data are published on the capacity of TGF-beta to induce interleukin (IL)-10 secretion in both naive and skewed T cell populations. Our aim was to test the IL-10-inducing capacity of TGF-beta in both naive and skewed cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) and elucidate the mechanism by which TGF-beta exerts its effect.

Does skin prick test reactivity to purified allergens correlate with clinical severity of peanut allergy?

Background: Recognition of specific peanut allergens or the diversity of IgE binding to peanut allergens may play a role in the elicitation of severe allergic reactions.

Objective: To investigate whether sensitization to individual allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6 is correlated with clinical severity.

Methods: The reactivity of purified peanut allergens was measured by skin prick test (SPT) and by IgE immunoblot in 30 patients.

Variance component analysis of quantitative trait loci for pork carcass composition and meat quality on SSC4 and SSC11.

In a previous study, QTL for carcass composition and meat quality were identified in a commercial finisher cross. The main objective of the current study was to confirm and fine map the QTL on SSC4 and SSC11 by genotyping an increased number of individuals and markers and to analyze the data using a combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis method. A modified version of the method excludes linkage disequilibrium information from the analysis, enabling the comparison of results based on linkage information only or results based on combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium information.

No effect of anti-interleukin-5 therapy (mepolizumab) on the atopy patch test in atopic dermatitis patients.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) is an in vivo model to study the induction of eczema by inhalant allergens in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody to interleukin-5, which reduces peripheral blood eosinophils. Previously, we reported that mepolizumab treatment did not result in clinical improvement in AD.

IgE-mediated allergen presentation and blocking antibodies: regulation of T-cell activation in allergy.

It is well established that both the production of IgE by B lymphocytes and the maturation and recruitment of eosinophils in late-phase reactions are dependent on the activation of allergen-specific type-2 T-helper cells. What is less well known is the fact that efficient activation of allergen-specific T cells upon low-dose exposure to allergens is critically dependent on IgE-mediated or -facilitated allergen presentation. In fact, changes in the level of IgE-mediated allergen presentation may account for many of the immunological effects described for specific immunotherapy or anti-IgE treatment.

Diagnostic tests based on human basophils: potentials, pitfalls and perspectives.

Human basophils are important tools for studying immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions since they release a variety of mediators (e.g., histamine, leukotriene C4, IL-4 and IL-13) following allergen triggering.

Requirements for effective IgE cross-linking on mast cells and basophils.

This article reviews the characteristics of high affinity IgE receptors (FcepsilonRI) and their role in the response to allergenic proteins. The requirements for successful cross-linking of FcepsilonRI on basophils and mast cells and subsequent degranulation by allergenic proteins will be explained in detail. Methods for in vitro analysis of allergen-induced mast cell and basophil degranulation will be described and issues/problems in applying these methods will be discussed.

Modulation of the atopy patch test: tacrolimus 0.1% compared with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) is an in vivo model to study the induction of eczema by inhalant allergens in atopic dermatitis patients. We studied the effect of pretreatment with topical tacrolimus 0.1% on APT in nonlesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Identification of quantitative trait loci for carcass composition and pork quality traits in a commercial finishing cross.

A QTL study for carcass composition and meat quality traits was conducted on finisher pigs of a cross between a synthetic Piétrain/Large White boar line and a commercial sow cross. The mapping population comprised 715 individuals evaluated for a total of 30 traits related to growth and fatness (4 traits), carcass composition (11 traits), and meat quality (15 traits). Offspring of 8 sires (n = 715) were used for linkage analysis and genotyped for 73 microsatellite markers covering 14 chromosomal regions representing approximately 50% of the pig genome.

Efficient sorting of TNF-alpha to rodent mast cell granules is dependent on N-linked glycosylation.

Mast cells play an important role at the early stages of immunological response to bacterial infections and parasite infestations. One of the major mast cell proinflammatory mediators is TNF-alpha. Mast cells are considered the only cells capable of storing TNF-alpha in cytoplasmic granules and rapidly releasing it upon activation.

Characterization of T cell epitopes in alphas1-casein in cow's milk allergic, atopic and non-atopic children.

Background: One to two percent of infants suffer from IgE-mediated allergic reactions against cow's milk proteins. Most children develop clinical tolerance, but approximately 15% are still allergic by the age of 10 years. Little is known about the T cell epitopes in individual cow's milk protein in relation to allergy and tolerance.

Determination of no-observed-adverse-effect levels and eliciting doses in a representative group of peanut-sensitized children.

Background: Current labeling practices for allergenic foods like peanut can be inadequate. For future regulatory and industry guidelines, information on no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) and eliciting doses (EDs) for allergenic foods is necessary.

Objective: To determine NOAEL and ED in a representative group of peanut-sensitized children, relate these data to history and sensitization, and evaluate the outcome of dietary management.

Absence of T-regulatory cell expression and function in atopic dermatitis skin.

Background: The role of regulatory T cells has been widely reported in the suppression of T-cell activation. A dysfunction in CD4(+)CD25(+) T-regulatory cell-specific transcription factor FoxP3 leads to immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy X-linked syndrome, often associated with atopic dermatitis. Increasing the number and activity of regulatory T cells in affected organs has been suggested as a remedy in various inflammatory diseases, including allergy.

Detection of QTL for innate: non-specific antibody levels binding LPS and LTA in two independent populations of laying hens.

In the current study results are presented of an experiment dealing with the Natural antibodies which are measured by level of homotopes LPS and LTA. Two independent populations were examined (F2 population descendant from a cross between chickens divergently selected for either High or Low specific Ab responses to SRBC (HL) and F2 cross descendant from lines expressed different behavior concerning feather pecking (FP)). In total 12 QTL were detected to non-specific antibody titers directed to LTA and LPS and at two ages after applying two statistical models in an F2 HL population.

Differential expression of genes involved in skin homing, proliferation, and apoptosis in CD4+ T cells of patients with atopic dermatitis.

CD4+ T cells play a critical role in allergic diseases, both in the affected tissue as well as systemically. Our objective was to investigate the in vivo activation state of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients by analyzing gene expression profiles of unstimulated CD4+ T cells. mRNA samples from blood CD4+ T cells, isolated from five AD patients and seven healthy controls (HC), were analyzed using oligonucleotide arrays.

Identification of strong interleukin-10 inducing lactic acid bacteria which down-regulate T helper type 2 cytokines.

Background: Decreased exposure to microbial stimuli has been proposed to be involved in the increased prevalence of atopic disease. Such a relationship was indicated by enhanced presence of typical probiotic bacteria in the intestinal flora correlating with reduced prevalence of atopic disease. Recent clinical trials suggested that probiotic bacteria may decrease and prevent allergic symptoms, but which (different) species or strains may contribute is poorly understood.