The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Aug 2007
A new mechanism regulating the initiation of allergic airway inflammation.
The earliest immune events induced by allergens are poorly understood, yet are likely essential to understanding how allergic inflammation is established. ⋯ These findings reveal a new paradigm for understanding how allergic inflammation begins and suggest novel possibilities for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, such as asthma.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2007
Exposure to dust mite allergen and endotoxin in early life and asthma and atopy in childhood.
There has been no longitudinal study of the relation between concurrent exposure to dust mite allergen and endotoxin in early life and asthma and atopy at school age. ⋯ Early endotoxin exposure may be a protective factor against atopy but a risk factor for wheeze in high-risk children.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2007
The relevance of microbial allergens to the IgE antibody repertoire in atopic and nonatopic eczema.
A propensity to microbial skin infections has been reported in atopic ("high IgE") and nonatopic ("low IgE") forms of eczema. However, the relationship between antimicrobial IgE antibodies and nonatopic disease is unclear. ⋯ Hypersensitivity to microbial allergens is an unlikely trigger for eczematous eruptions in patients with low IgE levels.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2007
Mast cell-derived TNF contributes to airway hyperreactivity, inflammation, and TH2 cytokine production in an asthma model in mice.
Mast cells, IgE, and TNF, which have been implicated in human atopic asthma, contribute significantly to the allergic airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in mice sensitized with OVA without alum. However, it is not clear to what extent mast cells represent a significant source of TNF in this mouse model. ⋯ Our findings in mice support the hypothesis that mast cell-derived TNF can promote allergic inflammation and AHR in asthma.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2007
Lack of association between indoor allergen sensitization and asthma morbidity in inner-city adults.
Sensitivity and exposure to indoor allergens is associated with increased asthma morbidity in inner-city children. However, it is unknown whether sensitization is associated with worse asthma in adults. ⋯ These findings suggest that efforts to improve asthma control among urban populations should focus on other modifiable risk factors for morbidity.