Atopic asthma caused by Candida albicans acid protease: case reports.

Two cases of atopic asthma caused by acid protease produced by Candida albicans are reported. Both patients had high levels of serum IgE antibodies against the acid protease and showed positive conjunctival and immediate bronchial responses when challenged with the protease. Significant histamine release was detected in both patients when their peripheral leukocytes were challenged with the protease antigen.

Possible role of tyrosine kinase activity in interleukin 4-induced expression of germ-line C epsilon transcripts in a human Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line, DND39.

Despite the recent advances in knowledge of the molecular mechanism by which interleukin-4 (IL-4) induces IgE production, little is known about the signal transduction pathway that leads to this event. This study investigated the signal transduction mechanism responsible for IL-4-induced expression of germ-line C epsilon transcripts with use of a human Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line, DND39, which is known to express germ-line C epsilon transcripts in response to IL-4. On stimulation with IL-4, the generation of inositol triphosphate was observed in the cells.

[Interleukin-5-induced generation of superoxide by eosinophils in asthma].

Superoxide generation was assessed in highly purified eosinophils (> 99.0% pure) with a flow cytometer. Eosinophils from patients with asthma were collected by centrifugation of leukocytes on Percoll density gradients, followed by negative immunoselection with anti-CD16 monoclonal antibodies.

[Release of chemical mediators in the conjunctival lavage fluids after eye provocation with allergen or compound 48/80].

Allergen extract was used to perform conjunctival provocation test on patients with Japanese cedar pollen conjunctivitis during the off-season, and histamine, tryptase and immunoreactive-leukotriene C4 (i-LTC4), which mainly consisted of LTE4, were measured in the lavage fluids. The results obtained in this study were as following. 1) After instillation of the allergen extract (1:20, w/v, 0.

[Clinical evaluation of whole blood histamine release test simultaneously testing multiple allergens--correlated with bronchial provocation test].

We compared the efficacy of the novel histamine release test (HRT), which allows the determination of many allergens at the same time using a small amount of whole blood, with other conventional allergen diagnostic tests. HRT and RAST were both performed along with bronchial provocation tests (BPT) on 44 bronchial asthma patients in whom the etiologic allergen could not be determined by either intracutaneous tests (ICT) or ophthalmic response tests (ORT). The HRT uses a microtiterplate on which glass fibers have 10 kinds of allergens affixed.

[Special cloth futon-cover (Miroguard) as a protection against house dust mite exposure].

We studied the efficacy of a special cloth encasing (Microguard) in protecting against house dust mite exposure. We vaccumed dust from right or left half surface of a shiki-futon (Japanese style mattress). Then we encased the shiki-futon by a new special encasing, vaccumed dust from the other part of the shiki-futon and got a pair of dust samples.

[Allergic characteristics of bronchial asthma in the elderly].

Allergic characteristics were investigated in asthma patients older than 60 years of age. Among these asthmatic patients: 1. About 37% showed negative immediate skin response to all antigen extracts tested.

[The allergic reaction to acid protease released by Candida albicans].

The species of Candida albicans (C. albicans) are known to colonize mucocutaneous regions as part of the endogenous flora. C.

Purification of human blood basophils and leukotriene C4 generation following calcium ionophore stimulation.

A simple method for purification of basophils from a relatively small volume of blood has been developed, which enables us to collect basophils with a purity of over 80%. Basophils were partially purified from 10-20 ml of citrated whole blood using the discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation technique and then contaminant cells were removed using monoclonal antibodies against CD2, CD19, CD14 and CD16. At the end of the procedure, basophils were > 80% pure with lymphocytes accounting for most of the contaminating cells.

[Clinical usefulness of histamine release test in determining allergens in food hypersensitivity].

We examined the clinical usefulness of three diagnostic tests including the histamine release test, RAST and prick test in determining which of a total of 349 allergens were responsible for individual cases of food hypersensitivity. The subjects were 42 children (mean 3.3 years old).

[Changes in antigen-specific IgG, IgG4, and IgE antibodies in patients receiving immunotherapy with house-dust extract].

We measured allergen-specific IgG, IgG4, IgE antibodies and total IgE in sera from 64 patients who were receiving conventional immunotherapy (IT) with house dust (HD) extract. The sera were taken before and after IT. To measure allergen-specific antibodies, we used crude DF antigen, Der f I and Der f II for IgG and IgG4 antibodies, and crude DF antigen for IgE antibodies.

[A study of sensitization and symptoms in adult asthmatics who keep cat and dog].

We studied hypersensitivity to cats and dogs in three hundred adult asthmatics who kept them. Some findings were noted as follows. 1) The mean duration for which cats were kept was 6.

Allergens from Dermatophagoides mites with chymotryptic activity.

A new set of allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae (provisionally named DP5 and DF5, respectively) was isolated from the whole culture of mites. The apparent molecular weights of both allergens were shown to be 25,000 on SDS-PAGE under a reducing condition and 27,000 on Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography.

[Advance in the method of eosinophil separation--separation of human eosinophils in density gradients and measurement of density distribution].

To separate human eosinophils from peripheral blood, we used six discontinuous density gradients of Percoll solution (1.070, 1.080, 1.

[Eosinophilic cystitis].

Nine cases were diagnosed to be eosinophilic cystitis on the basis of histological criteria and clinical observations were made on these cases. In all cases, a past history of allergic or collagen diseases were revealed. Eosinophils in urine were present in 8 out of 9 cases and allergic tests were then performed.

[A study of characteristics in adult asthmatics who are sensitized by cats and dogs allergens].

We studied adult asthmatics who were sensitized (RAST sore > or = 1) by cats and dogs allergens. Compared with non-sensitized asthmatics, the following some characteristics were noted in the sensitized asthmatics: 1) The histogram of the onset age of asthma showed two peaks. 2) The asthmatics sensitized by cats epithelium were more frequent and had higher RAST scores than those sensitized by dog hair dander.

Suppression of IgE production by IPD-1151T (suplatast tosilate), a new dimethylsulfonium agent: (2). Regulation of human IgE response.

The ability of IPD-1151T to suppress the induction of human IgE synthesis was investigated with an in vitro model of IgE production mediated by an allergen-specific helper T cell line (SN-4) from a patient allergic to Japanese cedar pollen. IPD-1151T induced a concentration-dependent suppression of purified allergen (Cry j 1)-dependent IgE synthesis in autologous B cell cultures mediated by SN-4, without significantly affecting the IgG synthesis. In addition, the production of interleukin 4 (IL-4) by Cry j 1-activated SN-4 as well as that by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal donors was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the agent.

Suppression of IgE production by IPD-1151T (suplatast tosilate), a new dimethylsulfonium agent: (1). Regulation of murine IgE response.

The effect of IPD-1151T, a new dimethylsulfonium compound, on the IgE response was investigated in the mouse system. The oral administration of IPD-1151T to immunized BALB/c mice suppressed the primary IgE antibody response and depressed the elevation of serum IgE levels, whereas the same treatment did not affect the IgG antibody response. The enhanced expression of low-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) on the spleen cells of immunized mice was also inhibited by IPD-1151T administration.

Further characterization of dispersed human sinus mast cells.

We have examined biochemical and functional characteristics of dispersed sinus mast cells and compared them with those of mast cells dispersed from other tissues. This experiment yielded the following results. 1) Although no difference was observed in histamine content, tryptase content in sinus mast cells was significantly lower than that of skin and lung mast cells.

Possible role of CD5+ B cells expressing CD23 in mediating the elevation of serum-soluble CD23 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Since increased levels of serum soluble CD23/Fc epsilon RII (sCD23) were evidently demonstrated in patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the possible mechanisms responsible for the elevation of serum sCD23 were investigated in RA patients. In keeping with increased serum sCD23, high proportion of CD23+ B cells was detected in the patients; this was associated with the enhanced expression of only Fc epsilon RIIa mRNA. Upon incubation at 37 degrees C, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients spontaneously released high levels of sCD23 into the culture supernatant, while the CD23 expression on their B cells was considerably maintained even after the culture.

[A new steroid therapy for difficult asthmatics--an induction and maintenance, two-step therapy].

Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) administered by inhaler is a very useful drug for the treatment of bronchial asthma. In this therapy, it is very important to use steroids systematically to induce a complete remission of asthma attack (first step) and then begin to use BDP a dose of more than 800 micrograms to maintain remission (second step). We treated 27 difficult asthmatics with this therapy and found this new method very useful.

[A case of dural sarcoidosis].

A 26 year-old man, who was treated for meningitis in our hospital previously, was rehospitalized 1 year later because he developed disturbance of consciousness, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence. Blood examination revealed accelerated ESR, elevated GPT, slight elevation of serum Ca, strong positive CRP, and a decrease in PHA and Con A. ACE was within normal range and tuberculin reaction was negative.

[The clinical significance of eosinophils in urine].

The clinical significance of eosinophils in urine was examined. Eosinophils were found in 9 out of 10 cases of interstitial cystitis, and there were more than 50 eosinophils in 50 fields in 6 of these cases. Although the number of eosinophils almost correlated with the number of leucocytes, the relationship between eosinophils and leucocytes in interstitial cystitis was different in acute and chronic cystitis.

Establishment of a sensitive radioimmunoassay for the detection of human IgE-binding factor (soluble CD23).

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to low-affinity receptor for IgE (FceRII/CD23) was established by the fusion of spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the FceRII+ human B lymphoblastoid cell line (RPMI 8866) with mouse myeloma P3U1. Four mAbs, 10/3 (IgG1), 11/4 (IgG1), 12/2 (IgG2b) and 15/6 (IgM), almost completely inhibited the IgE binding to FceRII+ cells but not to FceRII- cells. More directly, they were demonstrated to react only with 43-kD component/FceRII of the cell lysate of RPMI 8866 cells by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis.