Role of FOXP3 Expression and Serum Vitamin D and C Concentrations When Predicting Acquisition of Tolerance in Infants With Cow's Milk Allergy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Treg cells and dietetic factors may play a significant role in the natural acquisition of tolerance in children with cow's milk allergy (CMA). The best marker for Treg lymphocytes is the transcription factor forkhead boxP3 (FOXP3). Objective: We examine the relationship between FOXP3 mRNA expression and serum concentrations of vitamins D and C and the development of different phenotypes of tolerance in children with CMA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 138 infants with CMA and 101 healthy infants. All children underwent oral food challenge, first with an extensively heated milk product and then with unheated products. FOXP3 mRNA expression and serum vitamin C and D concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: At 2 years of life, 54 children (39.1%) still had CMA, 43 (31.2%) were unheated milk-reactive and heated milk-tolerant, while 41 (29.7%) had outgrown their allergy. The mean (SD) level of FOXP3 expression in the study group was 2.07 (1.23), which was lower than the control group value of 2.98 (1.52) (P<.001). A value below 1.45 indicated allergy. The mean serum level of vitamin D in the study group was lower than in the control group (29.67 [7.09] vs 33.35 [4.13] ng/mL; P<.001). No significant differences were found in mean serum vitamin C content. CONCLUSIONS: Increased FOXP3 mRNA expression can predict faster acquisition of tolerance in infants with CMA. These children have lower serum vitamin D levels than healthy children. No relationship was found between the natural history of CMA and serum vitamin C concentration.

The impact of immunomodulatory factors from maternal diet during pregnancy on cow's milk allergy in offspring - A pilot study in the paediatric population of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship.

BACKGROUND: The key role of dietary factors in immunotolerance promotion and allergic diseases prevention has been emphasised. The aim of the study was the analysis of the impact of immunomodulatory dietary components, consumed by pregnant women, on the development of cow's milk allergy (CMA) in their offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one pairs of mothers and their CMA-offspring were included in the study group. The analysis of a daily intake of selected dietary components was conducted retrospectively with the application of a seven-day diet of a mother in the third trimester of gestation and the authors' own questionnaire. The Diet 5.D programme was used. RESULTS: An average daily retinol intake by study-group mothers was significantly lower than by control-group mothers and valued 375.6µg/d vs. 543.7µg/d (p=0.040), respectively. Folates intake in the study group was 598.8µg/d vs. 361.1µg/d in the control group (p=0.001). Vitamin D in the study group was statistically lower - 3.6µg/d, comparing to the control group - 6.9µg/d (p=0.038). Average LC-PUFA intake by mothers with allergic children was 0.09g/d, while in the control group 0.18g/d (p=0.016). An analysis of the diet revealed that significantly more mothers of children from the control group (n=12; 48%) consumed fish 2-3 times per month in comparison to the study group (n=9; 17.6%) (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D, A, LC-PUFA, retinol, riboflavin and fish consumption by pregnant mothers of CMA-children was significantly lower, whereas beta-carotene and folates consumption was significantly higher than that of mothers with non-allergic children.

Influence of selected HLA tissue compatibility antigens on the course and efficacy of viral hepatitis C treatment--actual knowledge position.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common problem. Combined treatment with interferon and ribavirin improved treatment efficacy, but still high percentage of infected patients has not reached virus elimination. It was found that HCV infection course, but also treatment efficacy among other things can depend on patient's individual factors, including MHC genes structure for HLA tissue compatibility antigens. Many connections between HLA system and HCV infection course were noted. There are some reports concerning connections between MHC structure and results of chronic hepatitis C treatment with interferon. In future, results of investigations connected with this problem can allow to verify qualification criteria for treatment with alpha-interferon, because actual knowledge position has been too inconspicuous to have practical significance.