Effects of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae on Activation of Human Eosinophilic Leukaemia EoL-1 Cells / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of lower respiratory disease, especially in children and young adults. Several studies have suggested that respiratory infection by M. pneumoniae is associated with reactive airway disease and asthma. Though eosinophilia in peripheral blood are revealed in patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia, what is not known is the functional capacity of M. pneumoniae to activate human eosinophils. We investigated whether M. pneumoniae lysate (MPL) can activate human eosinophils to release inflammatory mediators. METHODS: Human eosinophilic leukemic cell lines, EoL-1 cells were incubated with MPL. Activation of EoL-1 cells was monitored by IL-8 production, superoxide production and surface expression of CD69, ICAM-1, CD11b, and CD49d. In addition, we examined the effect of MPL and the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) on IL-8 expression in EoL- 1 cells. RESULTS: MPL induced IL-8 release in a time- and dose- dependent manner. However MPL did not induce superoxide anion production and CD69, ICAM-1, CD11b, and CD49d surface expression in EoL-1 cells. Pretreatment with mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal- regulated kinase (ERK) [MEK] inhibitor PD98059, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor II SP600125, and selective p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 inhibited MPL-induced IL-8 production, but the MPL stimulation had no effect on the activities of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that MPL causes activation of EoL-1 cells, and activation of MAPKs by MPL may be one of the mechanisms that result in an increase of the production of IL-8.

Polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 promoter(-318) and exon 1(+49) genes with atopic dermatitis in Korean children / 소아과

PURPOSE: The gene-encoding cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4(CTLA-4) is one of the candidate genes for conferring susceptibility to atopic dermatitis(AD). The aim of the study was to investigate the association between Korean children with AD and the polymorphisms of CTLA-4 gene promoter(-318) and exon 1(+49). METHODS: The CTLA-4 promoter(-318 T/C) and exon 1(+49 A/G) polymorphisms were genotyped via restriction fragment length polymorphism methods in 145 children with atopic eczema, 69 children with non-atopic eczema, and 96 healthy controls. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of the CTLA-4 promoter -318 T/C and exon 1 +49 A/G polymorphisms when the atopic eczema, non-atopic eczema, and control groups were compared. Additionally the CTLA-4 promoter -318 T/C and exon 1 +49 A/G polymorphisms were not shown to be associated with severity, IgE level, or eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the polymorphisms within the CTLA-4 promoter(-318 T/C) and exon 1(+49 A/G) genes are not associated with susceptibility to AD in Korean children.

Wild Rice, Hypoallergenic Rice, and GMO Rice-Immuologic Comparison / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Rice is the main cereal produced and consumed in large quantities in Asian countries including Korea. Several reports have suggested a role of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity in asthma and eczema associated with ingestion or inhalation of rice. In Japan, hypoallergenic rices are used as substitutes for rice in some atopic patients. We performed this study to identify major the allergens of rice and the different allergenicity in cooked rice and hypoallergenic rices. METHODS: We made crude extracts from rice of various origins: polished rice, cooked rice, hypoallergenic rice from Japan and GMO rice, and performed SDS-PAGE. Based on uni, CAP test and skin prick tests we got pooled sera, then IgE immunoblots were undertaken. We performed ELISA inhibition to rule out nonspecific binding. RESULTS: There was no difference of protein distribution between the origins of the various rices, and their "polishment". After cooking, it was difficult to see any protein distribution of rice. With the results of IgE immunoblots it was impossible to differentiate between wild and hypoallergenic rices by IgE binding itself. Even in hypoallergenic rice, there was still a binding of IgE with remaining allergen. CONCLUSION: Boiling degenerates almost all protein in rice IgE binding activities remain in hypoallergenic rice produced in Japan was no difference between wild and GMO rice in SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblot using sensitized pooled sera. Further studies with more sensitive sera are necessary for the identification of major allergens and the development of hypoallergenic rice.

Increased Serum Thymus and Activation-regulated Chemokine (TARC) Levels in Children with Atopic Dermatitis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is responsible for the trafficking of Th2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation. We tested whether TARC is a useful marker for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and we evaluated age-related differences in the level of TARC. METHODS: Serum TARC level, serum total IgE level, total eosinophil count and specific IgE level were measured in 401 children. They were characterized as having IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis (n=157), non-IgE mediated atopic dermatitis (n=107), or as healthy control subjects (n=137). RESULTS: TARC levels in AD significantly were higher than those in healthy control subjects. (152.9+/-11.6 vs 56.7+/-5.2 pg/mL, P< 0.05) Serum TARC levels significantly correlated with disease severity (SCORAD index) both in children with IgE mediated AD (r=0.670, P< 0.05) and children with non-IgE mediated AD. (r=0.605, P< 0.05) Serum TARC levels in control subjects decreased in accordance with age. (r=-0.201, P< 0.05) CONCLUSION: Serum TARC might be a useful marker for disease severity both in children with IgE mediated AD and children with non-IgE mediated AD. Serum TARC levels in control subjects decreased in accordance with ages.