Total and allergen-specific IgE levels in serum reflect blood eosinophilia and fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentrations but not pulmonary functions in allergic asthmatic children sensitized to house dust mites.

Although elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) are considered the hallmark of atopic diseases, their clinical value in evaluating subjects with allergic disorders is under debate. To evaluate possible relationships between serum IgE levels and a variety of clinical parameters, 83 mild asthmatic children [10.98-year-old (2.

Modulation of the constitutive or cytokine-induced bronchial epithelial cell functions in vitro by fluticasone propionate.

When exposed to proinflammatory mediators, human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) upregulate the 'constitutive' adhesion molecule expression and cytokine/chemokine release. We tested whether and to what extent the inhibitory effect of fluticasone propionate on HBECs could involve the 'constitutive' and 'cytokine-induced' proinflammatory functions. Stimulation of the HBECs with interleukin (IL)-4 plus tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was more effective in upregulating intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 ( approximately 2.

Naturally occurring immune response against bacteria commonly involved in upper respiratory tract infections: analysis of the antigen-specific salivary IgA levels.

Lyophilized bacterial lysates, which actively stimulate the immune response, are widely used as vaccines or 'biological response modifiers' in subjects with recurrent bacterial respiratory infections. Since vaccines are indicated in the absence or in the presence of a weak constitutive immune response activity, a better knowledge on the 'naturally' occurring antibacterial immune response at the oropharingeal level should be helpful. A study was, therefore, designed to quantify the presence of salivary IgA directed against surface antigens bacteria frequently involved in the pathogenesis of upper respiratory tract infections: Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Streptococcus pyogenes (SPy), Morraxella catarrhalis (MC), Haemophylus influenzae (HI), and Streptococcus pnumoniae (SPn).