CpG Oligodeoxynucleotide Inhibits Cockroach-Induced Asthma via Induction of IFN-gamma+ Th1 Cells or Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells in the Lung

PURPOSE: CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN), a TLR9 agonist, activates innate immunity and induces Th1 response. Although the immune modulatory effect of CpG-ODN has been extensively studied, its function in cockroach extract-induced allergic asthma has not been studied. Here, we investigated the inhibitory function of CpG-ODN in cockroach extract-induced asthma in mice with different treatment schemes. METHODS: Scheme 1: BALB/C mice were intra-nasally co-administered by cockroach extract and CpG-ODN twice a week for 3 weeks; Scheme 2: The mice were intra-nasally pre-treated with CpG-ODN at day 0 and cockroach allergen challenge was performed from day 3 as in scheme 1. Scheme 3: Cockroach allergen challenge was performed as in scheme 1 and CpG-ODN was post-treated at day 21. Then, BAL cell count, flow cytometric analysis of alveolar macrophages, regulatory T cells, and lung tissue histology, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, serum IgE, cockroach specific IgE, IgG1/IgG2a ratio, and airway hyper-responsiveness were evaluated. RESULTS: Mice with repeated intra-nasal exposure to CpG-ODN showed a dramatic decrease in eosinophilic inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyper-responsiveness with reduction of IL-13, IL-5, and serum IgE, cockroach specific IgE and IgG1/IgG2a ratio. This inhibitory function might be related to the up-regulation of IL-10 and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the lung. Interestingly, one-time challenge of CpG-ODN either prior or posterior to cockroach extract exposure could modulate airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness via increase of Th1 response. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data suggest that CpG-ODN treatment modulates Th2 inflammation in the lung by induction of regulatory T cells or Th1 response in a cockroach-induced asthma model.

The total protein and some characterization of allergenic proteins in the body of blatella germanica cockroach / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Introduction: Prevalence of asthma is increasing year by year, especially among children and exposure to high levels of indoor allergens is a very important factor [1]. Cockroaches are an important cause of asthma in many other regions of the world, including Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore in the Pacific Rim, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico in Centrel America, India, South Africa and more recently, Europe [2]. Goal: The aim of this study was determined total protein amounts allergenic proteins and protein bands of сockroach.Material and Methods: The сockroachs were collected in Ulaanbaatar. The allergenic protein components of the сockroach was purified by the method of Hames Richmond. The total protein of extracts was measured by the Bradford method and the protein components of cockroach were determined by the SDS-PAGE.Results: Among the 4000 known species of cockroaches, only 5 commonly inhabit homes and have the potential to contribute to indoor allergens. These include the American (periplaneta americana), German (Blattella germanica), Oriental (Blatta orientals), Smokey brown (Periplaneta fuliginosa), and brownbanded (Supella longipalpis) varieties [3]. We were defined 2,25mg/ml protein amounts (w/v) in extracts of the purified and lyophilized protein of the сockroach. We were used a standard marker 195,7; 104,0; 59,8; 41,6; 27,8; 21,1; 15,2; 6,5kd molecular weight proteins on the 13% separation gel of SDS-PAGE. On column determined protein bands with 82,3; 59,9; 55,2; 44,0; 41,6; 34,4, 22,7, 17,1 kd molecular weights.Conclusions: The сockroach was included 8 allergenic protein components between ranges of 17,1-82,3 kd molecular weights were determined in the extracts of the body Blatella germanica.

A revisit to cockroach allergens.

Among cockroaches (CR) that live in people’shomes, two species, i.e., German CR (Blattella germanica) and American CR (Periplaneta americana) predominate in temperate and tropical areas, respectively. CR is an important source of inhalant indoor allergens that sensitize atopic subjects to (localized) type I hypersensitivity or atopy including allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma. In Thailand the predominant CR species is P. americana. CR allergens are found throughout CR infested houses; the number found in kitchens correlates with the degree of CR infestation while sensitization and reactivation of the allergic morbidity are likely to occur in the living room and bedroom. Levels of the CR allergens in homes of CR allergic Thais, measured by using locally made quantification test kits, revealed that the highest levels occur in dust samples collected from the wooden houses of urban slums and in the cool and dry season. CR allergens are proteins that may be derived from any anatomical part of the insect at any developmental stage. The allergens may be also from CR secretions, excretions, body washes or frass. The proteins may be the insect structural proteins, enzymes or hormones. They may exist as dimers/multimers and/or in different isoforms. Exposure to CR allergens in infancy leads to allergic morbidity later in life. Clinical symptoms of CR allergy are usually more severe and prolonged than those caused by other indoor allergens. The mechanisms of acute and chronic airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) have been addressed including specific IgE- and non-IgEmediated mechanisms, i.e., role of proteaseactivated receptor-2 (PAR2). Participation of various allergen activated-CD4+ T cells of different sublineages, i.e., Th2, Th17, Th22, Th9, Th25, Tregs/Th3 as well as invariant NKT cells, in asthma pathogenesis have been mentioned. The diagnosis of CR allergy and the allergy intervention by CR population control are also discussed.

An Evaluation of Cockroach Allergies in Atopic Dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily influenced by environmental factors including exposure to pollutants and indoor allergens (particularly, house dust mites). Al-though house dust mite antigens are the most prevalent components of indoor allergens in Korea, cockroaches also can be considered to act as an important allergen. OBJECT: This study was done to evaluate the differences in three different atopic patch test (APT) techniques, and the relationship between APT and skin prick test, total IgE, and specific serum IgE level using cockroach allergen. Methods: We performed patch test in 57 patients with AD and 30 normal controls on clinically lesional and normal appearing skin with German cockroach (GC) allergens (extract, as is) in three different techniques (standard, scratch, DMSO). Reactions were evaluated after 48hours, and compared with the results of skin prick test, total and specific IgE levels. Detailed atopy history and severity scoring were taken. RESULTS: In the GC (whole body) prick test positive group, there was 1263.02 IU/ml of total IgE, and this amount was significantly higher than GC (whole body) prick test negative group who had 549.46 IU/ml (P0.05). There was no significant relationship between the positive reactions to patch test and prick test to Ext and As is antigen. The APT results showed no significant concordances with skin prick test and RAST for cockroach antigens. CONCLUSIONS: APT seems to be a different dimension of atopic skin inflammation and may pro-vide further diagnostic information in addition to a patient's history, skin prick test, and RAST results.