Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Sep 2009

Brucellosis is an infectious disease with high impact on innate immune responses which is induced partly by its DNA. In the present study the potential differences of wild type and patients isolates versus attenuated vaccine strains in terms of cytokines, ROS and NO induction on murine splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages were investigated.This panel varied in base composition and included DNA from B. abortus, B. melitensis, B.abortus strain S19 and melitensis strain Rev1, as attenuated live vaccine. Also we included Escherichia coli DNA, calf thymus DNA (a mammalian DNA), as controls. These DNA were evaluated for their ability to stimulate IL-12, TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ and ROS production from spleenocytes as well as NO production from peritoneal macrophages. Spleen cells were cultured in 24 well at a concentration of 106 cells/ ml with subsequent addition of 10 μg/ml of Brucella or Ecoli DNAs. These cultures were incubated at 37ºC with 5% CO2 for 5 days. Supernatants were harvested and cytokines, ROS and NOx were evaluated. It was observed that TNF-α was induced in days 1,3,5 by all Brucella strains DNAs and E. coli DNA, IL-10 only was induced in day 1, IFN-γ was induced only in day 5 and IL-12 not induced. ROS and NOx were produced by all strains; however, we observed higher production of NOx which were stimulated by DNA of B. melitensis.

Serotonin receptors are involved in pathophysiology of schizophrenia and may mediate other neurotransmitter effects. We investigated serotonin receptors gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of naïve schizophrenic patients, before and after treatment. Also serotonin receptor gene expression was compared in two treatment groups including Haloperidol and Olanzapine. The PBMC was separated from whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque. The total cellular RNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process was followed by real-time PCR using primer pairs specific for 5HT3a serotonin receptor mRNA and beta-actin as internal control. The results showed the presence of subtype of serotonin receptor in lymphocytes. Serotonin gene expression showed significant changes in Olanzapine treatment group which correlated with Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score improvement. In conclusion, the present study has shown that human PBMC express serotonin receptors 5HT3a. Moreover, clinical symptom improvement of Olanzapin may be demonstrated by a change in serotonin receptor gene expression.

Several asthma susceptibility loci, including a region containing the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene located at chromosome 12q, have been identified using genome-wide screens. Our aim is to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VDR gene and asthma. One hundred one asthma patients and 206 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing. The results showed that there was no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of Fok I and Bsm I polymorphisms between asthma patients and the controls in the Chinese Hans (For Fok I: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.82-1.60; for Bsm I: OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.87-2.38).It is suggested that Fok I and Bsm I polymorphisms of VDR gene may not significantly contribute to the development of asthma in the Chinese Hans.

This study investigated the association between HSV-1 infection and atopy by comparing seropositivity to HSV-1 in atopic children with asthma and allergic rhinitis and in non-atopic children.Totally 249 children randomly selected from the university outpatient pediatric clinics were prospectively enrolled in the study between September 1 and November 30, 2007. Serum samples were examined using the virus neutralization test (VNT) for HSV-1 Immunoglobulin G(IgG) seropositivity. Skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed to determine atopic status. The results showed that HSV-1 IgG seropositivity was significantly higher in atopic children (56.8%) with asthma and allergic rhinitis than in the age-matched non-atopic children group (30.4%) (p<0.001). Although the occurrence of atopy was higher in seropositive girls (57%) than in seropositive boys (47%), the difference was not significant (p=0.329). These results support a possible relationship between the atopic status of children with asthma and allergic rhinitis and HSV-1 infection.

Spirometry has been used as a common diagnostic test in asthma. Most of the patients with a mild asthma have a FEV1 within normal range. Hence, other diagnostic methods are usually used. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) could be an accurate diagnostic marker of mild asthma.In this study diagnosis of asthma was made according to internationally accepted criteria. Asthma severity was evaluated according to frequency of symptoms and FEV1. Adequate sputum samples were obtained in 50 untreated subjects. A control group of 12 normal subjects that showed PC20 more than 8 mg/dl was also examined. Sputum was induced by inhalation of hypertonic saline. Inflammatory cells in sputum smears were assessed semi-quantitatively. ECP and IgE concentrations, eosinophil (EO) percentage and ECP/EO ratio in serum and sputum were also determined. The results revealed that Cough and dyspnea were the most frequent clinical findings. Dyspnea and wheezing were the symptoms that correlated with staging of asthma. FEV1 was within normal range (more than 80% of predicted) in 22 (44%) subjects.Asthmatic patients showed significantly higher numbers of blood eosinophils (4.5± 3.1% vs. 1.2±0.2%, P=0.009), and higher levels of serum ECP than control group (3.1± 2.6 % and 22.6± 15.8 ng/ml, respectively). Sputum ECP level in asthmatics was significantly higher than non- asthmatics (55.3±29.8ng/mL vs. 25.0±24.7ng/mL, P=0.045). Regression analysis showed no significant correlation between spirometric parameters and biomarkers, the only exception was significant correlation between FEF25-75 and serum ECP (r= 0.28, P 0.041). Regarding clinical symptoms, wheezing was significantly correlated with elevation of most of biomarkers. Since, serum and sputum ECP levels are elevated in untreated asthmatics, the ECP level could be used for accurate diagnosis of mild form of asthma in which spirometry is unremarkable

Toxocara canis is an intestinal nematode affecting dogs and cats that causes human infestations by ingestion of embryonated eggs excreted in dogs'' faeces. Humans are transport hosts, in whom the larvae do not develop to adult worms, but may migrate to various tissues and organs, and survive for several years, giving rise to several clinical symptoms, which include allergy-like presentations. We report three cases presenting as dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, and conjunctivitis which were diagnosed and unsuccessfully treated as allergy. The correct diagnosis was established after detecting anti-Toxocara antibodies by Western blotting. All clinical symptoms showed improvement after starting treatment with mebendazole and subsequent courses of the antiparasitic drug resulted in full recovery. This suggests the possible role of Toxocara canis in inducing chronic symptoms of allergic type. This is particularly important for asthma, where it has been demonstrated that Toxocara canis infection causes allergic inflammation in the lungs associated with bronchial hyperreactivity. On the other hand, in our patients with asthma and with dermatitis the positive results from allergy tests were a confounding factor in delaying the correct diagnosis, which was finally obtained by the detection of antibodies to Toxocara canis.

Oxaliplatin, a third generation of platinum-based anti-neoplastic agent has been approved for colorectal cancer in both adjuvant and metastatic settings. In addition, oxaliplatin is also indicated for other gastrointestinal malignancies such as metastatic pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine. Its common toxicities include infusional hypersensitivity reaction (HSR), GI symptoms with anorexia/nausea/vomiting, sensory neuropathy and bone marrow suppression. We report a case with persistent dry cough as a variant HSR to oxaliplatin. The patient is a 75-year-old gentleman with gemcitabine refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer who received oxaliplatin and mitomycin C for palliation. He developed sudden onset dry cough without infectious etiology during the 4th infusion of oxaliplatin. Robitussin with codeine and antibiotics did not offer any relief and the cough terminated after cessation of oxaliplatin for two weeks. We believe this to be the first case in the literature with cough as a sole manifestation of HSR to oxaliplatin.

Although current guidelines place single leukotriene receptor antagonists use as a therapeutic option in mild persistent asthma, there is still uncertainty about its place. In this study efficiency of montelukast monotherapy in children with moderate persistent asthma was evaluated. Children (age 6 to 16) with persistent moderate asthma were treated prospectively with budesonide combined with montelukast (n=20), or only montelukast (n=15) during six months. Asthma symptoms and exacerbations were obtained from diary data. This study suggests that both treatments were effective and well tolerated. It could be concluded that sole montelukast treatment in children with moderate persistent asthma is effective.