The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2014
Receptor for advanced glycation end products and its ligand high-mobility group box-1 mediate allergic airway sensitization and airway inflammation.
The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) shares common ligands and signaling pathways with TLR4, a key mediator of house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) (HDM) sensitization. We hypothesized that RAGE and its ligand high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) cooperate with TLR4 to mediate HDM sensitization. ⋯ The HMGB1-RAGE axis mediates allergic airway sensitization and airway inflammation. Activation of this axis in response to different allergens acts to amplify the allergic inflammatory response, which exposes it as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2014
Multicenter StudyGenome-wide association study and admixture mapping identify different asthma-associated loci in Latinos: the Genes-environments & Admixture in Latino Americans study.
Asthma is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental causes. Genome-wide association studies of asthma have mostly involved European populations, and replication of positive associations has been inconsistent. ⋯ Admixture mapping and genome-wide association are complementary techniques that provide evidence for multiple asthma-associated loci in Latinos. Admixture mapping identifies a novel locus on 6p21 that replicates in a meta-analysis of several Latino populations, whereas genome-wide association confirms the previously identified locus on 17q21.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of selective COX-2 inhibition on allergen-induced bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation in asthma.
Prostaglandins that constrict and relax airways are synthesized in reactions catalyzed by either COX-1 or COX-2. It is not known whether selective inhibition of COX-2 makes asthmatic responses better or worse. ⋯ This first study of COX-2 inhibition in provoked asthma found no negative effects of etoricoxib on allergen-induced airflow obstruction and sputum eosinophils, basal lung function, or methacholine responsiveness. The study suggests that short-term use of COX-2 inhibitors is safe in subjects with asthma.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2014
Lung function decline and variable airway inflammatory pattern: longitudinal analysis of severe asthma.
Eosinophilic airway inflammation measured by using induced sputum is an important treatment stratification tool in patients with severe asthma. In addition, sputum eosinophilia has been shown to be associated with severe exacerbations and airflow limitation. ⋯ The amplitude of sputum eosinophilia was associated with postbronchodilator FEV₁ in asthmatic patients. In contrast, high variability rather than the amplitude at baseline or over time of sputum eosinophils was associated with accelerated FEV₁ decrease.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2014
Effects of rhinovirus species on viral replication and cytokine production.
Epidemiologic studies provide evidence of differential virulence of rhinovirus species (RV). We recently reported that RV-A and RV-C induced more severe illnesses than RV-B, which suggests that the biology of RV-B might be different from RV-A or RV-C. ⋯ Our results indicate that RV-B types have lower and slower replication, and lower cellular cytotoxicity and cytokine and/or chemokine production compared with RV-A or RV-C. These characteristics may contribute to reduced severity of illnesses that has been observed with RV-B infections.