IgE-mediated allergic responses associated to Ailanthus altissima pollen using an animal model.

BACKGROUND: Murine models have been widely used in the study of allergy as sensitized mice can produce IgE and/or IgG1in response after the injection of an antigen/adjuvant combination. Ailanthus altissima pollen (AAP) has been recently reported as an emerging aeroallergen in Iran. So far, several AAP candidate allergens by the screening of allergen-specific IgE in the sera from AAP sensitized patients in Iran. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to detect and compare the allergens eliciting an IgE response in a mouse model, and in human, using pollen extract of A. altissima and an immunoproteomics based approach. METHODS: The pollen proteins were extracted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Thirty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups of AP extract sensitized and sham that respectively received AAP PBS extract and a PBS control by intraperitoneal injections at regular intervals. The optimized AAP protein extracts were analyzed using 2D-gel electrophoresis and were subsequently confronted to pooled sera of sensitized mice. RESULTS: Two-D gel electrophoresis of AAP extract allowed the separation of 125 protein spots distributed in a wide range of pI and molecular masses. Two-DE immunoblotting using pooled sera of sensitized mice led to the detection of 14 IgE reactive spots with molecular masses ranging from 12 to 40-42kDa. CONCLUSION: The results do not correlate with our previous analyses using human AAP-sensitized sera. These findings reflect some differences in the sIgE reactivity to allergenic proteins in animal models.

Cytokine production by activated T cells in common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic antibody deficiency. It is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, increased susceptibility to recurrent infections, autoimmunity, and malignancies. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether patients with CVID have cytokine production defects after T-cell activation and to assess whether or not these are correlated with markers of severe disease. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with CVID and 17 healthy volunteers were investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured under standard conditions in the presence and absence of phytohemagglutinin. Subsequent cell proliferation and cytokine release were measured and compared between stimulated and unstimulated cells. RESULTS: A general enhancement in cytokine production was observed in both CVID patients and controls after stimulation. However, we detected a lower production of interferon-gamma in CVID patients than in controls (P = .026). A production defect for at least 1 cytokine was observed in 12 patients. Ten of these failed to generate protective titers in response to the polysaccharide vaccine, and the frequency of bronchiectasis in this group of patients was 91.7%. Cytokine release correlated strongly with cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that some CVID patients have T-cell proliferation and secretory defects and that these may be associated with severe manifestations of disease. Screening for such defects could permit more effective monitoring and therapeutic strategies for CVID patients.

T- helper 1 and 2 cytokine assay in patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous group of disorders, characterized by decreased immunoglobulin levels in serum and increased susceptibility to recurrent infections, autoimmunity, and malignancy. The pathogenesis of CVID is still unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate T-helper (T(H)) 1 and 2 cytokine levels in patients with CVID. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four cases of CVID were studied. Cytokine levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon gamma were measured in the serum of the patients and compared with those of healthy controls. RESULTS: T(H)2 cytokine levels (IL-4 and IL-10) were significantly higher in the patient group than in the controls (median: 64.5 vs 0.0 pg/mL, P=.016 for IL-4 and 321.1 vs. 0.0 pg/mL, P=.001 for IL-10). However, there were no significant differences in T(H)1 cytokines between the 2 groups (median, 116.5 vs. 104.5 pg/mL, P=.22 for IL-2 and 50.5 vs. 42.3 pg/mL, P=.32 for IFN-gamma). CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 could indicate high activation of T(H)2 lymphocytes in this group of patients and consequently supports the concept of a bias towards T(H)2-type responses.

Serum concentration of selenium in healthy individuals living in Tehran.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether daily diet provides adequate selenium intake in healthy men and women living in Tehran, Iran. METHOD: Serum level of selenium was determined in 184 healthy individuals of both genders. The samples were divided into two age groups, adults and children, for analysis. The serum level of selenium was determined using hydride generation and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of serum selenium levels in children (1-16 years) was 84.3 +/- 11 microg/l and there was no significant difference between genders in this group. In adults (older than 16 years) the mean serum selenium level was 100.6 +/- 13 SD microg/l; among women the mean was 93.9 +/- 14 SD microg/l and among men it was 102.2 +/- 12 SD microg/l. The mean selenium level in men was higher than in women and data analysis showed a significant difference between them (p < 0.005). There was also a positive correlation between higher selenium serum concentration and age in men (P < 0.001). Daily intake of selenium in men and women was calculated to be 67 microg and 62.1 microg respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the serum concentration of selenium in an Iranian population is similar to other nationalities in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia.

A laboratory method for purification of major cow's milk allergens.

Food allergy is responsible for the most frequent allergic reactions in children under 1 year of age. Diagnostic tests such as skin test or specific IgE assay usually need highly purified preparations of allergenic proteins. The aim of the present study was to purify three main cow's milk proteins: casein, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin as allergenic extracts for first time in Iran.

Normal value of immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, and IgM in Iranian healthy adults, measured by nephelometry.

Local reference ranges of immunoglobulins are required for studies and clinical interpretation. In this study, serum levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM in 914 Iranian healthy adult blood donor volunteers, aged 18-55 years, were measured by nephelometry. Our data showed that serum reference intervals of IgA, IgG, and IgM in subjects were 72-375, 636-1518, and 39-283 mg/dL, respectively. Data analysis showed a significant difference between the male and female subjects only for IgM; thus, the means of IgM in females were higher than for males (p < 0.05). Correlation coefficient r for paired samples showed no statistically significant relationship between age and each Ig (p > 0.05). Comparison of this study with others demonstrated that results are similar; some differences are probably related to ethnic differences. Therefore, our results can be considered as a source of reliable local reference for use in laboratories.

Diminished Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in healthy adult nonresponders to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

Vaccination of healthy adults with recombinant hepatitis B (rHB) vaccine fails to induce a protective antibody response in a proportion of individuals. Imbalanced T-helper (Th)1/Th2 response has been attributed to the lack of specific antibody response to rHB vaccine. In this study, in vitro production of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-10 was investigated in Iranian healthy adults vaccinated with rHB vaccine. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 18 high responders and eight nonresponders and stimulated with rHB antigen or phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) mitogen. The cytokines were quantitated in culture supernatants by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results demonstrated a significant decrease in the production of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-10 (P < 0.005) in response to rHB antigen. The levels of all cytokines induced by PHA were similarly represented in both groups of vaccinees. These findings suggest that unresponsiveness to rHB vaccine may be owing to inadequate Th1- and Th2-like cytokine production.