Anti-Dermatophagoides farinae type I and II IgE antibodies in allergic rhinitis

ABSTRACTSera from 27 patients with mite-sensitive allergic rhinitis, without atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma, were examined for anti-Der f I and anti-Der f II IgE antibody contents by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-Der f I and anti-Der f II IgE antibody levels were 14.78 ± 1.34 and 32.68 ± 0.88 ng/mL (mean ± SEM), respectively. The anti-Der f II IgE antibody was predominant over the anti-Der f I IgE antibody in these patients.In comparison with the results of a previous study the present study indicates that the ratio between serum anti-Der f I and II IgE antibodies in patients with allergic rhinitis indicated the same pattern as in that of patients with bronchial asthma, while the inverse was the case in patients with atopic dermatitis.These results indicate that immunological features and major allergen molecules could be different in different atopic diseases. At present it is not clear where this difference comes from, but the route of immunological sensitization (via respiratory tract vs via skin) might result in the difference

A novel hypothesis for the gene expression for the control of atopic and other hereditary diseases

The requirement of RNA polymerase proteins and transcription factor proteins for the expression of genetic information in DNA clearly indicates that the process is influenced by certain proteins in the body and/or in the environment, which is totally opposite to the 'central dogma' of Crick. In this article, we present a working hypothesis (helical hypothesis) that may explain the programmed nature of various biological events simply and naturally. Future investigations on the factors that regulate the gene transcription of cytokine clusters, including intereukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, may provide an answer for controlling atopic as well as other hereditary (genetic) diseases

Late airway obstruction and neutrophil infiltration in sensitized mice after antigen provocation were suppressed by selective and non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors

Suppression of antigen-induced late airway obstruction associated with neutrophilic inflammation by selective and non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors was investigated in mice. Respiratory resistance (Rrs) increased in sensitized BDF1 mice 4-6 h after antigen provocation, whereas no obvious immediate reaction was observed. This reaction was associated with marked airway neutrophilia without significant infiltration of eosinophils. A selective PDE IV inhibitor, T-440 (10-30 mg/kg), and a non-selective PDE inhibitor, theophylline (10 mg/kg), significantly inhibited airway obstruction and neutrophilia when administered orally. An anti-allergic drug, ketotifen (1 mg/kg), caused slight inhibition of airway obstruction, whereas it did not affect airway neutrophilia. These results suggest that neutrophilic inflammation plays a role in the airway obstructive reaction and that PDE has a regulatory role in obstructive airway disease associated with airway inflammation