Nerve growth factor induces increased airway inflammation via a neuropeptide-dependent mechanism in a transgenic animal model of allergic airway inflammation

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) exerts an important functional impact on the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Data obtained in animal models of allergic bronchial asthma indicate that NGF alters sensory nerve function and promotes allergic inflammation, bronchial hyper-reactivity, and airway obstruction. OBJECTIVE: To further delineate the effects of NGF on airway inflammation, we employed a transgenic (tg) animal model of allergic inflammation and asthma. METHODS: NGF-tg mice, which overexpress NGF in Clara cells of the airways, were compared with wild-type (wt) littermates regarding their ability to mount IgE-related airway inflammatory responses. Mice were sensitized intraperitoneally to ovalbumin (OVA) and locally challenged via the airways according to established protocols. RESULTS: NGF-tg mice displayed enhanced levels of OVA-specific IgE antibody titres after repeated OVA aerosol exposure. In the airways, increased numbers of eosinophils were detected. These results were confirmed to be NGF specific, because similar results were obtained following local application of NGF into the airways of wt mice. The effect of NGF was partly mediated via neuropeptides, as treatment of OVA-sensitized NGF-tg mice with the dual neurokinin (NK) receptor NK-1/NK-2 antagonist partly prevented enhanced airway inflammation. CONCLUSION: The present data indicate an important functional role of NGF in allergic airway inflammation and point to an involvement of tachykinins as mediators of NGF effects.     

Common vaccine antigens inhibit allergen-induced sensitization and airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine model

BACKGROUND: Co-vaccination with cellular pertussis vaccine down-regulates allergic sensitization to diphtheria and tetanus antigens. Using a murine model, we investigated whether vaccination with diphtheria/tetanus toxoids, administered separately or simultaneously with the whole cell vaccine of Bordetella pertussis, inhibits subsequent allergen-induced immune and inflammatory responses. METHODS: BALB/c-mice were vaccinated intracutaneously with a combination of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids or a combination of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids with a whole cell vaccine of B. pertussis (three times, days -21 to -7) prior to systemic sensitization (days 1-14) and repeated airway challenges (days 28-30) with ovalbumin. RESULTS: Compared with negative controls, systemic sensitization and airway allergen challenges induced high serum levels of allergen-specific IgE, predominant Th2-type cytokine production, airway inflammation and development of in vivo airway hyperreactivity. Vaccination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids prior to sensitization suppressed IgE formation and development of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Co-vaccination with a whole cell pertussis vaccine inhibited allergen sensitization, airway inflammation and development of in vivo airway hyperreactivity. Prevention was due to an allergen-specific and general shift from a predominant Th2 towards a predominant Th1 immune response. CONCLUSION: Vaccination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids alone or in combination with whole cell pertussis vaccine prior to allergen sensitization prevented allergen-induced Th2 immune responses. Vaccine antigens may down-regulate allergic responses to a range of common allergens.     

High abundances of neurotrophin 3 in atopic dermatitis mast cell

Background  

Neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) is a member of the neurotrophin family, a group of related proteins that are known to regulate neuro-immune interactions in allergic diseases. Their cellular sources and role in the recruitment of mast cell precursors in atopic dermatitis have not been characterized in detail so far.     

Neurotrophins in murine viscera: a dynamic pattern from birth to adulthood

There is growing evidence that target-derived neurotrophins regulate the function of visceral neurons after birth. However, the postnatal profile of neurotrophin supply from internal organs is poorly described. In this study, we compared neurotrophin concentrations in lysates of murine peripheral target tissues (lung, heart, liver, colon, spleen, thymus, kidney and urinary bladder) at different time points after birth. In most organs, there was a decrease of neurotrophin concentrations in the first weeks after birth. In contrast, there were characteristic increases of specific neurotrophins during adolescence or adulthood. These increases were found for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the heart, thymus, kidney and liver, for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the lung, and for neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the colon. In conclusion, we show that neurotrophins display a very differential and dynamic profile in internal organs after birth.     

Effect of immunomodulating and antiviral agent of medicinal mushrooms (immune assist 24/7) on CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts of HIV-infected patients

Immune enhancement through the use of natural products is a potentially valuable therapeutic modality in HIV-infected people, especially those who are not good candidates for aggressive ARV therapy. One such immune enhancement, a medicinal mushroom product from the United States, is Immune Assist 24/7. In this study the effect of Immune Assist 24/7, which is a naturally derived immune-modulating and antiviral agent, on CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts was evaluated in 8 HIV-infected patients at the Sunyani Regional Hospital (Ghana). The subjects were administered three tablets of 800 mg Immune Assist 24/7 once daily (2.4 g/day) and peripheral blood samples were drawn at baseline, day 30, and day 60, and the CD4+ count measured. The study revealed that Immune Assist 24/7, used as a sole therapeutic agent without additional ARV drugs, significantly increased CD4+ T-lymphocyte populations in all of the patients. In one patient, the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count went from 4 at the baseline, to 170 cells in 60 days, representing an increase of more than 4000%. In another patient, the CD4+ count went from 88 to 470 cells within the same period. Even in the patients with the highest CD4+ counts of around 800, there was a significant elevation in the CD4+ count noted. This study did not deal with the effect of Immune Assist 24/7 on other immune parameters such as CD3+ T-lymphocyte count, natural killer cells count, or viral load among HIV-infected patients. These initial results are promising, and indicate the potential value of further evaluating the effects of Immune Assist 24/7 on other immune parameters and viral load among HIV patients, administered either as a sole therapeutic agent, as an adjuvant with standard ARV therapy, or in comparison with standard ARV therapy alone.     

Rehabilitation after occupational accidents in professional dancers: advice with due regard to dance specific aspects

The highly specialized occupation of professional dancers is a combination of sport and artistic expression. The exertion is only possible with a fully operative body. Although professional dancers may be compared with elite athletes and acute injuries frequently happen, dancers do not seem to be granted an appropriate therapy after accidents as compared with athletes. Although even minor injuries may potentially endanger the career of a professional dancer, physiotherapeutic or physical treatment methods are applied in every tenth case only. Alternative and holistic concepts such as Pilates or dance-specific re-integration that proved successful in professional dancers, are used in even fewer instances. The aim of this study is to develop a rehabilitation concept for professional dancers focusing on dance-medicine aspects. It has been taken into account that the best physical outcomes are reflected in an optimized, holistic, dance-specific therapy and rehabilitation. Intensifying and exploiting dance-specific methods of treatment can not only reduce costs in the end but can even contribute to reducing the duration of rehabilitation after injuries of dancers. Preconditions for realization of the rehabilitative model are a high qualification of all persons working in the rehabilitative field as well as a marked willingness to cooperate in the various dance fields. Both gender-specific and dance-style particularities are to be taken into account to ensure a successful rehabilitation.