Lower Functional and Proportional Characteristics of Cord Blood Treg of Male Newborns Compared with Female Newborns.

Understanding the early events involved in the induction of immune tolerance to harmless environmental antigens and microbiota compounds could reveal potential targets for allergic disease therapy or prevention. Regulatory T cells (Treg), particularly induced Treg (iTreg), are crucial for the induction and maintenance of tolerance against environmental antigens including allergens. A decrease in the number and/or function of Treg or iTreg could represent an early predictor of allergy development. We analyzed proportional and functional properties of Treg in the cord blood of children of allergic mothers (neonates at high risk of allergy development) and healthy mothers (neonates with relatively low risk of allergy development). We observed a higher number of induced Treg in the cord blood of females compared to males, suggesting an impaired capacity of male immunity to set up tolerance to allergens, which could contribute to the higher incidence of allergy observed in male infants. The decreased proportion of iTreg in cord blood compared with maternal peripheral blood documents the general immaturity of the neonatal immune system. We observed a positive correlation in the demethylation of the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) and the proportion of Treg in cord blood. Our data suggest that immaturity of the neonatal immune system is more severe in males, predisposing them to increased risk of allergy development.

Monitoring of biogenic amines in cheeses manufactured at small-scale farms and in fermented dairy products in the Czech Republic.

The aim of the study was the monitoring of six biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine, putrescine, and cadaverine) and two polyamines (spermidine and spermine) in 112 samples of dairy products purchased in the Czech Republic, namely in 55 cheeses made in small-scale farms and in 57 fermented dairy products. The products were tested at the end of their shelf-life period. Neither tryptamine nor phenylethylamine was detected in the monitored samples; histamine was found only in four cheese samples containing up to 25mg/kg. The contents of spermine and spermidine were low and did not exceed the values of 35 mg/kg. Significant amounts of tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine occurred especially in cheeses produced from ewe's milk or in long-term ripened cheeses. In about 10% of the tested cheeses, the total concentration of all the monitored biogenic amines and polyamines exceeded the level of 200mg/kg, which can be considered toxicologically significant. In fermented dairy products, the tested biogenic amines occurred in relatively low amounts (generally up to 30 mg/kg) that are regarded safe for the consumer's health.