The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Potential role of vasomotor effects of fibrinogen in bradykinin-induced angioedema.
Although bradykinin is known to play a major role in the pathophysiology of hereditary and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi)-induced angioedema, other factors acting as triggers or enhancers are likely important as well. ⋯ The increase of plasma fibrinogen levels, its vasodilator activity in human ITAs, and the potentiation of bradykinin-induced vasodilation suggest that fibrinogen might contribute to the pathophysiology of ACEi-induced angioedema. Thus acute-phase proteins, such as fibrinogen, might be viewed as risk factors for bradykinin-induced angioedema.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Prematurity, chorioamnionitis, and the development of recurrent wheezing: a prospective birth cohort study.
Prematurity (< 37 weeks) has been inconsistently associated with asthma and wheezing. Chorioamnionitis may promote both prematurity and inflammatory pathways in infants' airways. ⋯ We found a strong joint effect of prematurity and chorioamnionitis on early childhood wheezing. This effect was stronger in African American subjects.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Comparative StudyCell-specific activation profile of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in asthmatic airways.
Many airway cells manifest signs of chronic activation in asthma. The mechanism of this chronic activation is unknown. ⋯ Significant phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 and their correlation with disease severity suggests that the foregoing signaling pathways play an important role in asthma. The ERK1/2 and p38 pathways regulate epithelial cell secretory function and proliferation.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Corticosteroids enhance CD8+ T cell-mediated airway hyperresponsiveness and allergic inflammation by upregulating leukotriene B4 receptor 1.
Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent inflammatory lipid mediator that binds to LTB4 receptor 1 (BLT1). Ligation of BLT1 by LTB4 plays an important role in the recruitment of effector memory CD8+ T cells into the airways of sensitized and challenged mice. ⋯ Corticosteroids upregulate BLT1 on effector memory CD8+ T cells and related signaling pathways and potentiate allergic airway inflammation and AHR induced by these cells.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Apr 2008
Comparative StudyEffective prevention and therapy of experimental allergic asthma using a GATA-3-specific DNAzyme.
Allergic bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. The transcription factor GATA-3 was shown to play an important role in TH2 cell activation, but also in the regulation of other cell types involved in bronchial asthma including mast cells, eosinophils, and epithelial cells. DNAzymes represent a new class of antisense molecules that combines the specificity of DNA base pairing with an inherent RNA-cleaving enzymatic activity. ⋯ These results indicate that topical application of the GATA-3-specific DNAzyme is a promising novel approach for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma.