The usefulness of the basophil activation test in monitoring specific immunotherapy with house dust mite allergens

Introduction: In clinical practice, reliable tools for monitoring specific immunotherapy (SIT) are of utmost importance. Aim: To assess the usefulness of the basophil activation test (BAT) in monitoring SIT in paediatric patients with allergy to house dust mites (HDM). Material and methods: Thirty-one children qualified for SIT with HD,, of whom 21 completed the SIT during the observation period. The BAT was carried out prior to commencing the SIT (time point BAT1) and upon finishing the initial pack of allergy vaccine (cumulative dose of allergen 12487.5 PNU, BAT2), as well as after the second vaccine pack (cumulative dose of allergen 23750.0 PNU; BAT3). Peripheral blood of the patients was stimulated with allergen solutions in five concentrations from 0.00225 ng/ml to 22.5 ng/ml. Basophil activation was measured by CD63 expression in flow cytometry. Results: For the allergen concentration of 0.225 ng/ml, a statistically significant decrease in median basophil activation was observed, from 51.29% at BAT1 to 8.48% at BAT2 (\rho = 0.004) and 4.21% at BAT3 (\rho < 0.001). For the allergen concentration of 0.0225 ng/ml, a statistically significant decrease was seen between BAT1 (1.72%) and BAT3 (0.21%, \rho = 0.01). Median CD-sens index decreased significantly from 1099.02 at BAT1 to 179.31 at BAT2 (\rho < 0.002) and 168.04 at BAT3 (\rho < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a significant decrease in BAT results in the course of specific immunotherapy with HDM allergens in children, with the optimum allergen concentration for monitoring basophil response at 0.225 ng/ml. The CD-sens index seems to be a better monitoring parameter than the plain percentage of CD63-expressing basophils

Residential proximity to major roadways is associated with increased prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms in children

[b]introduction and objective[/b]. Numerous epidemiologic studies have reported increased risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma in relation to ‘western life-style’, which represents diversity of factors. We hypothesized that residential proximity to major roadways, reflecting an exposure to traffic-related air pollution, is associated with prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms in children. [b]materials and methods[/b]. A total of 8290 individuals of two age groups: 16 year olds and 7 year olds from Krakow, Poland were included. We used the Polish version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood supplemented with a question concerning the distance between a responder’s house and a high traffic density road: below 200 m, from 200–500 m, or more than 500 m. [b]results[/b]. Children and adolescents with a residential proximity closer to a major roadway had more frequent asthma-related symptoms in the last 12 months and at any time in the past. Consistent with the increased frequency of asthmatic symptoms, responders residing within 200 meters complained more often of sneezing, runny or blocked nose accompanied by itchy-watery eyes and hay fever in comparison to responders who resided 200–500 meters from a major roadway. The lowest rate of nasal symptoms was observed in residents living in the distance to major roads (> 500 meters). The rate of positive answers decreased in a distant-dependent manner. [b]conclusions[/b]. Our findings suggest an important spatial relationship between the distance from a major roadway and the evaluated respiratory symptoms. The results emphasize the need for more comprehensive air quality policies within urban areas with increased motor vehicle density

Influence of environment exposures on the frequency of contact allergies in children and adolescents

Contact allergy is detected in every second child with the symptoms of chronic or recurrent eczema, and in every third child the final diagnosis is allergic contact dermatitis. Haptens responsible for the majority of contact sensitizations in children are substances ubiquitous in our environment, e.g. metals, preservatives, fragrances, propolis, and balsam of Peru. Much concern is provoked by the higher rates of sensitization to fragrances in younger children, compared to adolescents, which may be attributed to the higher exposure nowadays of infants and children to fragrant products. On the other hand, a limitation of exposure to the preservatives thimerosal and Kathon CG has resulted in decreased rates of sensitization to these haptens. Altogether, these observations demonstrate that the rates of contact sensitizations in children reflect changes in their environment, and limitations imposed on the use of haptens with strong sensitizing properties, may be an effective tool in the prevention of contact allergy

Antibody reactivity in patients with IgE-mediated wheat allergy to various subunits and fractions of gluten and non-gluten proteins from ω-gliadin-free wheat genotypes

Introduction and objective Gluten proteins (gliadins and glutenins) are polymorphic wheat storage proteins of allergenic properties. Significant differences in chemical composition between both protein groups allow to expect highly specific immunological response of individual subunits and fractions in reactions with IgE sera of people allergic to wheat. The aim of these studies was to identify and characterize the most allergenic gluten proteins (GP) and nongluten proteins (NGP) occurred in two closely related wheat hybrid genotypes. Material and Methods 3xC and 3xN wheat hybrids, which differ strongly in regard of gliadin composition, were analyzed. Seven people manifesting different symptoms of wheat allergy donated sera for the experiment. The technique of immunoblotting after SDS-PAGE was used for identification of allergenic subunits and fractions among GP and NGP. Immunologically active protein bands were visualized by chemiluminescence. Results Great variation of immunodetection spectra was observed. Results of immunoblotting showed LMW glutenins to be of highest, gliadins of medium, while NGP of lowest allergenicity for selected patients. The 43-kDa and 47-kDa LMW glutenin subunits, 40-kDa and 43-kDa γ-gliadin fractions and 49-kDa NGP can be considered as the most immunoreactive among all protein bands [b]separated by SDS-PAGE. Conclusions The observed differentiation of immunodetection spectra allows to model highly specific IgE-binding profiles of allergenic wheat proteins attributed to individual patients with symptoms of gluten intolerance. Highly immunoreactive subunits and fractions among GP and NGP were identified. The observed immunoreactivity of 49 kDa NGP is worth to emphasize, as it has never been reported as wheat allergenic protein before