Comparing Proteolytic Fingerprints of Antigen-Presenting Cells during Allergen Processing.

Endolysosomal processing has a critical influence on immunogenicity as well as immune polarization of protein antigens. In industrialized countries, allergies affect around 25% of the population. For the rational design of protein-based allergy therapeutics for immunotherapy, a good knowledge of T cell-reactive regions on allergens is required.

Specific Antibodies for the Detection of Alternaria Allergens and the Identification of Cross-Reactive Antigens in Other Fungi.

Background: The mould Alternaria alternata is an important source of respiratory allergens. A. alternata extracts show great variations regarding allergenic potency.

Critical and direct involvement of the CD23 stalk region in IgE binding.

Background: The low-affinity receptor for IgE, FcεRII (CD23), contributes to allergic inflammation through allergen presentation to T cells, regulation of IgE responses, and enhancement of transepithelial allergen migration.

Objective: We sought to investigate the interaction between CD23, chimeric monoclonal human IgE, and the corresponding birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 at a molecular level.

Methods: We expressed 4 CD23 variants.

Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy.

Allergic reactions to fungi were described 300 years ago, but the importance of allergy to fungi has been underestimated for a long time. Allergens from fungi mainly cause respiratory and skin symptoms in sensitized patients. In this review, we will focus on fungi and fungal allergens involved in respiratory forms of allergy, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Carrier-bound, nonallergenic Ole e 1 peptides for vaccination against olive pollen allergy.

Background: Trees of the family Oleaceae (olive and ash) are important allergen sources in Mediterranean countries, Northern and Central Europe, and North America. The major olive pollen allergen Ole e 1 represents the majority of allergenic epitopes in olive pollen and cross-reacts with Fra e 1, the major ash pollen allergen.

Objective: We sought to develop a safe vaccine for the treatment of Oleaceae pollen allergy.

Differential response of iron metabolism to oxidative stress generated by antimycin A and nitrofurantoin.

The close interrelationship of oxidative stress and iron is evident by the influence of intracellular reactive oxygen species on iron metabolism. Oxygen radicals can lead to release of iron from iron-sulfur proteins and ferritin, and can damage iron-containing enzymes such as mitochondrial aconitase. Treatment of HepG2 human hepatoma cells with antimycin A has two effects relating to iron depending on the concentrations of antimycin A: increase of the labile iron pool and stimulation of non-transferrin-bound iron uptake.