Basophil Histamine Release and Humoral Changes during Immunotherapy

An in vitro pilot study was performed to determine whether basophil cell-bound specific IgE was correlated to serum-specific IgE and to basophil cell sensitivity during immunotherapy with a well-documented treatment. The findings showed a clear dissociation between these three parameters, which is in contrast to the situation before hyposensitization and to our previous study in a comparable group of non-hyposensitized patients, where highly significant correlations were observed. Further investigations are in progress to clarify whether the dissociation is involved in the clinical improvement.     

Characterization of grass pollen allergens by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-sepharose

Glycoprotein allergens of different carbohydrate composition can be separated by lectin interaction in affinity chromatography. The present study shows that several differences exist in the sugar moiety both within the species and between different grass species. Experiments with Bermuda grass and common reed indicate that these 2 extracts possess allergens with a high affinity for Con A-Sepharose. This offers a simple and rapid method for isolation and purification of the major allergenic components of these 2 species in combination with more conventional separation techniques. The purity of single allergens may vary markedly depending on the occurrence of other interfering, non-allergenic substances having free terminal α-D-mannopyranoside or α-D-glycopyranoside residues which bind to the immobilized lectin.     

Long-term efficacy of preseasonal grass pollen immunotherapy in children

BACKGROUND: In a previous controlled study we demonstrated that preseasonal grass pollen immunotherapy for three years was effective in children. In the current study we examined the same group of patients to see if there is still a benefit six years after discontinuation of treatment. METHODS: Thirteen of 14 patients with previous specific immunotherapy (SIT) and 10 out of 14 patients of the control group were prospectively followed during the grass pollen season. Outcome measures were seasonal symptom scores for eyes, nose and chest, the use of symptomatic medication and visual analog scale. Objective measures included skin prick test reactivity to seasonal and perennial allergens and conjunctival provocation testing. RESULTS: During the 13 week observation time scores for overall hayfever symptoms (P < 0.004) and individual symptoms for eyes (P < 0.02), nose (P < 0.04) and chest (P < 0.01) as well as combined symptom and medication scores (P < 0.002) remained lower in the group with previous SIT. Only 23% of patients with previous pollen-asthma who had received SIT experienced pollen-associated lower respiratory tract symptoms compared to 70% in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the use of pharmacological treatment during the pollen season except for asthma medication. The average visual analog scale was lower in the post-SIT group (P < 0.05). Six years after cessation of SIT the immediate skin response to grass pollen remained decreased compared to the reaction of the controls (P < 0.01). There was also a tendency for higher allergen concentration to provoke a conjunctival response in the post-SIT group but without reaching statistical significance. Eight years after commencement of SIT, 61% of the initially pollen-monosensitized children had developed new sensitization to perennial allergens compared to 100% in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is still a significant clinical benefit six years after discontinuation of preseasonal grass pollen immunotherapy in childhood. SIT in children with pollen-allergy reduces onset of new sensitization and therefore has the potential to modify the natural course of allergic disease.     

Analysis of allergenic components of Bermuda grass pollen by monoclonal antibodies

A panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) pollen (BGP) were generated for identification and purification of the major allergenic components of the eliciting antigen (Ag). Radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) analysis revealed that there were at least eight antigenic components with molecular weights (MW) ranging from 12 kilodalton (12 kDa) to 200 kDa. Each of these components has distinct biochemical characteristics based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF). Among them, Cyn d Bd67K and Cyn d Bd58K were basic proteins, Cyn d Bd35K consisted of at least four isomeric components with isoelectric points ranging from 6.2 to 7.2. The other antigens (Cyn d Bd68K, 48K, 38K, Cyn d Bd200K, Cyn d Bd46K, Cyn d Bd25K and Cyn d Bd12K) were all acidic proteins. The IgE binding capacity of all these antigens was determined with sera from 11 BGP-allergics by using a modified radioallergosorbent test. All but one of the antigens (Cyn d Bd200K) were found to react with human IgE from sera of BGP-allergic patients. Among those human IgE-binding molecules, Cyn d Bd35K reacted with allergic sera most frequently (10 of 11), followed by Cyn d Bd58K (8 of 11) and Cyn d Bd46K (7 of 11) respectively. Our results suggest that Cyn d Bd35K, Cyn d Bd58K, and Cyn d Bd46K are major allergens of BGP, and the MoAbs we obtained should be valuable tools for further purification of these allergens.     

A randomized,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled exploratory study to evaluate the potential of pycnogenol® for improving allergic rhinitis symptoms

The potential of Pycnogenol® for relieving allergic rhinitis (birch pollen) symptoms was explored in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. In 2008 19 subjects started treatment 3 weeks prior to the onset of birch pollen season in Ontario, Canada. While there was an improvement of eye and nasal symptoms with Pycnogenol, there was no significance versus placebo. It was postulated that Pycnogenol may require a lag‐time between the start of therapy and the onset of action. Therefore 39 subjects were treated 5–8 weeks prior to the 2009 birch allergy season. The evaluation of subjects in 2009 showed much lower scores for eye (?35%) and nasal (?20.5%) symptoms with Pycnogenol compared with placebo. In succession of the allergy season birch specific IgE increased by 31.9% in the placebo group compared with only 19.4% in the Pycnogenol group. Detailed analysis suggested that symptom‐relief was better the longer subjects were on Pycnogenol prior to the allergen exposure. The best results were found with subjects who took Pycnogenol 7–8 weeks ahead of the allergy season. With the limited number of 39 patients statistical predications were unattainable. In conclusion, Pycnogenol improved allergic rhinitis symptoms when supplementation was started at least 5 weeks before the onset of the allergy season. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

椰子花粉过敏原的分离、鉴定与纯化

目的 对椰子花粉的变应原组分进行初步的分离、鉴定及纯化.方法 提取椰子花粉粗提液,用十二烷基硫酸钠.聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(sDS-PAGE)分离椰子花粉的蛋白质组分并测定其相对分子质量,采用免疫印迹法鉴定其变应原成分,并通过离子交换层析对椰子花粉变应原进行初步分离纯化,免疫印迹进行检测.结果 SDS-PAGE显示椰子花粉粗提液有10条蛋白带,其中相对分子质量(肘,)为60 000、50 000、35 000、28 000、19 000、16 000和14 000的蛋白可与椰子花粉过敏性病人血清IgE结合,且M,50 000、16 000和14 000为主要变应原;离子交换层析结果显示主要过敏原成分主要分布在V峰中.结论 对椰子花粉变应原进行了初步的分离、鉴定和纯化,为临床椰子花粉变态反应疾病的诊断和治疗奠定了基础.     

Five‐grass pollen 300IR SLIT tablets: efficacy and safety in children and adolescents

Halken S, Agertoft L, Seidenberg J, Bauer C‐P, Payot F, Martin‐Muñoz MF, Bartkowiak‐Emeryk M, Vereda A, Jean‐Alphonse S, Melac M, Le Gall M, Wahn U. Five‐grass pollen 300IR SLIT tablets: efficacy and safety in children and adolescents.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 970–976.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S The efficacy and safety of five‐grass pollen 300IR sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets (Stallergènes SA, France) have previously been demonstrated in paediatric patients. This report presents additional data concerning efficacy at pollen peak, efficacy and safety according to age, nasal and ocular symptoms, use of rescue medication, satisfaction with treatment and compliance. Children (5–11 yr) and adolescents (12–17 yr) with grass pollen–allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were included in a multinational, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study and received either a 300IR five‐grass pollen tablet or placebo daily in a pre‐ (4 months) and co‐seasonal protocol. The severity of six symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, nasal and ocular pruritis, and tearing) was scored, and rescue medication use was recorded daily during the pollen season. Patient satisfaction was recorded at the season end. A total of 161 children and 117 adolescents were evaluated (n = 267). 300IR SLIT was effective over the whole season (p = 0.0010) and at the pollen peak (p = 0.0009). The adjusted mean difference between 300IR and placebo groups was significant for both nasal (p = 0.0183) and ocular (p < 0.0001) symptoms. Rescue medication use was statistically lower in the SLIT group during the pollen season and at the pollen peak (both p < 0.05). More patients in the SLIT group were satisfied with their treatment compared to placebo (83.2% vs. 68.1%, p = 0.0030), and compliance was high (SLIT 93.9% of patients were compliant, placebo 94.8% of patients were compliant). SLIT was well tolerated by children and adolescents. 300IR five‐grass pollen tablets are effective and safe during the pollen season and at the pollen peak in children and adolescents with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis.     

红花显微特征常数与化学成分相关性

目的:研究红花花粉粒显微特征常数的测定方法并测定红花中指标性成分羟基红花黄色素A的含量,分析两者的相关性,建立评价红花质量的新方法。方法:采用容量分析法对红花粉末中花粉粒的显微特征常数值进行测定,采用高效液相法对红花中羟基红花黄色素A的含量进行测定,将两组数据用统计方法进行相关性分析。结果:红花中花粉粒的显微特征常数与羟基红花黄色素A具有显著的相关性(正相关)。即红花花粉粒的显微特征常数的数值愈大,羟基红花黄色素A的含量愈大。结论:利用显微定量法测定红花显微特征常数值来评价其质量是科学、可行的。该研究初步建立了一种基于花粉粒显微特征常数测定的中药材质量评价新方法及技术,可为红花的质量控制提供新的技术手段,为其质标准制定提供参考依据。