The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Mar 2003
The effect of neonatal BCG vaccination on atopy and asthma at age 7 to 14 years: an historical cohort study in a community with a very low prevalence of tuberculosis infection and a high prevalence of atopic disease.
There are conflicting reports on the effect of BCG vaccination on the subsequent development of atopy and asthma. There are no data on the effects of neonatal BCG vaccination on cytokine responses of lymphocytes that are exposed in vitro to allergens. ⋯ We conclude that neonatal BCG vaccination has an effect on T-cell allergen responsiveness 7 to 14 years after vaccination and that among a subgroup of subjects with an inherited predisposition to allergic disease, this is associated with clinically relevant beneficial effects. The findings of this study encourage the view that external influences on the immune system in the neonatal period have consequences that extend into later childhood and influence the expression of asthma. Genetic factors are likely to modify the effect of those external factors.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialOmalizumab improves asthma-related quality of life in patients with severe allergic asthma.
We have previously shown that omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, reduces asthma exacerbations and decreases inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) requirement in patients with severe allergic asthma who were symptomatic despite moderate-to-high doses of ICSs. ⋯ In patients requiring moderate-to-high doses of ICSs for severe allergic asthma, the measurably improved disease control afforded by add-on omalizumab therapy is paralleled by clinically meaningful improvements in asthma-related QOL.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2003
Patients with anaphylaxis to pea can have peanut allergy caused by cross-reactive IgE to vicilin (Ara h 1).
Serologic cross-reactivity among legumes has been described; however, it is rarely clinically significant. In this study 3 patients with a history of anaphylaxis to pea are described who subsequently had symptoms after ingestion of peanut. ⋯ Clinically relevant cross-reactivity between pea and peanut does occur. Vicilin homologues in pea and peanut (Ara h 1) are the molecular basis for this cross-reactivity.
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Cytokines and chemokines are redundant secreted proteins with growth, differentiation, and activation functions that regulate and determine the nature of immune responses and control immune cell trafficking and the cellular arrangement of immune organs. Which cytokines are produced in response to an immune insult determines initially whether an immune response develops and subsequently whether that response is cytotoxic, humoral, cell-mediated, or allergic. A cascade of responses can be seen in response to cytokines, and often several cytokines are required to synergize to express optimal function. ⋯ Numerous cytokines have both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory potential; which activity is observed depends on the immune cells present and their state of responsiveness to the cytokine. For this chapter, cytokines are grouped according to those that are mononuclear phagocytic-derived or T-lymphocytic-derived; that mediate cytotoxic (antiviral and anticancer), humoral, cell-mediated, or allergic immunity; and that are immunosuppressive. The biology of chemokines are then reviewed, grouped by family.