Molecular allergen profiling in horses by microarray reveals Fag e 2 from buckwheat as a frequent sensitizer.

BACKGROUND: Companion animals are also affected by IgE-mediated allergies, but the eliciting molecules are largely unknown. We aimed at refining an allergen microarray to explore sensitization in horses and compare it to the human IgE reactivity profiles. METHODS: Custom-designed allergen microarray was produced on the basis of the ImmunoCAP ISAC technology containing 131 allergens. Sera from 51 horses derived from Europe or Japan were tested for specific IgE reactivity. The included horse patients were diagnosed for eczema due to insect bite hypersensitivity, chronic coughing, recurrent airway obstruction and urticaria or were clinically asymptomatic. RESULTS: Horses showed individual IgE-binding patterns irrespective of their health status, indicating sensitization. In contrast to European and Japanese human sensitization patterns, frequently recognized allergens were Aln g 1 from alder and Cyn d 1 from Bermuda grass, likely due to specific respiratory exposure around paddocks and near the ground. The most prevalent allergen for 72.5% of the tested horses (37/51) was the 2S-albumin Fag e 2 from buckwheat, which recently gained importance not only in human but also in horse diet. CONCLUSION: In line with the One Health concept, covering human health, animal health and environmental health, allergen microarrays provide novel information on the allergen sensitization patterns of the companion animals around us, which may form a basis for allergen-specific preventive and therapeutic concepts.

Effect of a selective agonist for prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP4 (ONO-4819) on the cortical bone response to mechanical loading.

The influence of a selective agonist for prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP4 (ONO-4819) on the bone response to mechanical loading was evaluated. Six-month-old female Wistar rats were used and assigned to three groups (n = 12/group): Vehicle administration (EP4-V), low-dose ONO-4819 administration (EP4-L, 3 microg/kg BW), and high-dose ONO-4819 administration (EP4-H, 30 microg/kg BW). ONO-4819 was subcutaneously injected in the back twice a day for 3 weeks. Loads on the right tibia at 39.4 N for 36 cycles at 2 Hz were applied in vivo by 4-point bending every other day for 3 weeks. Whole-body bone mineral content showed a significant difference between EP4-V and EP4-H (P < 0.05). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the total and regional tibia (the region with maximal bending at the central diaphysis) was higher in EP4-H than EP4-V, showing a significant effect of loading (P < 0.001) and ONO-4819 (P < 0.05). BMD of the total femur was higher in EP4-H than EP4-V (P < 0.01) and that of the distal femur was higher in EP4-H than EP4-V (P < 0.001). Histomorphometry of the cortical bone showed that loading increased formation surface (FS/BS), mineral appositional rate (MAR), and bone formation rate (BFR/BS) significantly at the lateral periosteal surface (P < 0.001); however, the effect of ONO-4819 was not significant. At the medial periosteal surface, loading increased the three parameters (P < 0.001) and ONO-4819 increased FS/BS (P < 0.001) and MAR (P < 0.05) significantly. At the endocortical surface, the effects of both loading and ONO-4819 were significant on all three parameters (for loading; FS/BS P < 0.01, MAR P < 0.05, BFR/BS P < 0.03, for ONO-4819 all P < 0.001). It was concluded that ONO-4819 increased cortical bone formation in rats and there was an additive effect on the bone response to external loading by 4-point bending.

Discoid lateral menisci in older patients. A radiographic study of 21 cases.

Twenty-three knees of 21 patients over 40 years of age with discoid lateral menisci were examined by radiography. The mean age of the patients was 59.7 years (range: 40-78 years). No patient had symptoms before the age of 40 and only 12 knees gave symptoms from the lateral compartment, although tears of a discoid lateral meniscus were diagnosed by arthrography in 21 of the 23 knees. Varus inclination occurred more frequently than valgus inclination. Subchondral bone sclerosis was more common in the medial compartment. However, high incidences of marginal osteophytes in the lateral compartment and morphological anomalies (cupping or flattening) of the lateral tibial plateau were revealed by radiography.

Effect of alpha-linolenic acid on the metabolism of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and histamine release in RBL-2H3 cells.

We examined the effect of alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 (n-3)) pretreatment on the metabolism of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and histamine content and release of RBL-2H3 cells. RBL-2H3 cells grew without reduction in number when incubated with subculture media for 3 d and then placed again in serum-free medium with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Cholesterol pullulan (10 micrograms/ml) emulsified alpha-linolenic acid (20 micrograms/ml) was recommended as an additional form serum free medium. We determined the fatty acid composition in all neutral lipids, free fatty acids and all phospholipids in alpha-linolenic acid-treated cells. In all cases the concentration of alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 (n-3)) was increased, while linolenic acid (18:2 (n-6)) was slightly and arachidonic acid (20:4 (n-6)) was markedly decreased. Content of histamine in alpha-linolenic acid-treated cells was remarkably lower than that of untreated cells. Accordingly, net histamine release stimulated by antigen or A23187 was also markedly decreased in the alpha-linolenic acid-treated cells, as was the percent histamine release stimulated by antigen. Results from our in vitro experiment suggest that the anti-allergic effect of alpha-linolenic acid may be caused either by the decrease in histamine content or by inhibition of the release of chemical mediator resulting from changes in the fatty acid composition.