Association of life style with high risk of hyperimmunity and of immunosuppression mediated by IgE

Correlation between Serum IgE and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Subjects with Type I Allergic Disorders

This study compares the relationship between serum IgE and salivary Cortisol levels in 42 normal and in 18 type I allergic subjects. Levels of serum total IgE and salivary Cortisol were determined with the UniCAP system and ELISA respectively. In the type I allergic subjects, there was a significant correlation between serum IgE and salivary Cortisol levels ( p < 0.01). In the normal subjects, on the other hand, no correlation was found. These findings suggest that there may be an association between stress and allergic disorders.

Longitudinal observation of children with enhanced total serum IgE

BACKGROUND

Long-term studies on the evolution of elevated total IgE (tIgE) concentration are in demand.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of allergic diseases and influential factors in children with high tIgE levels during a 5-year period.

METHODS

Children with high tIgE levels (>100 IU/mL) were study subjects. After the 5-year follow-up, an interview with the parents, clinical examination, and evaluation of tIgE and specific IgE (sIgE) to selected food and inhalant allergens were performed.

RESULTS

The mean tIgE decreased significantly after 5 years in girls and boys regardless of the place of residence. Monosymptomatic patients accounted for most cases throughout the study, with the highest tIgE level at the beginning. After follow-up, the percentage of polysymptomatic patients increased. Their mean tIgE level was significantly higher than in the other groups. After follow-up, 11.7% of participants remained asymptomatic, and another 11.7% reported relief from symptoms. Allergy symptoms persisted in most children with normal tIgE levels. The 2-allergen sensitization was the most common through the study. Only patients sensitized to 4 allergens had unchanged levels of mean tIgE after follow-up and those with the highest mean tIgE level had a newly diagnosed sensitization to at least 1 allergen. A significant decrease of sIgE level was observed for food allergens. The values of sIgE to inhalant allergens even increased after the 5-year follow-up, despite decreased tIgE levels.

CONCLUSION

In children with allergy and an elevated concentration of tIgE, the increasing or stable value of tIgE could be a useful parameter for the prediction of the development of polysymptomatic allergy.

The Osaka University Aged Twin Registry: Epigenetics and Identical Twins Discordant for Aging-Dependent Diseases

The Osaka University Aged Twin Registry (OUATR) is the largest adult twin registry in Japan. Since its establishment in 1974, the OUATR has conducted a number of studies with particular focus on the environmental contribution to physical–cognitive–mental aging, longevity and aging-dependent diseases in later adulthood. The registry consists of 12,000 pairs of Japanese twins born between 1900 and 1935. Two hundred and fifty pairs of twins have undergone comprehensive medical examination to date. Follow-up questionnaires have been mailed out on a regular basis, for the purpose of checking current vital statuses, health conditions, and so forth. The main objective of this longitudinal twin study is to contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and the promotion of successful aging.

The modulation of immunological activities in human NK cells by extracts of ginkgo

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between extracts of ginkgo and the immune system by determining changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity and surface markers in human NK cells and by analyzing for surface markers.

METHODS

Natural killer cell activity was determined in peripheral blood samples of three subjects who received ginkgo daily (250 ml/day; (ginkgo concentration 40 mg/ml) for 14 days by the non-radioisotopic Europium (non-RI Eu) release assay. Peripheral blood samples were taken three times during the study period: before ginkgo sample ingestion, on day 7 after ginkgo ingestion, and on day 14 after ginkgo ingestion). The peripheral blood samples were also analyzed for surface markers (CD56, CD3, CD19, CD20, CD4, CD8) using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACScalibur).

RESULTS

The non-RI Eu release assay revealed that the ingestion of ginkgo extracts elevated NK cell activity in the subjects, with the highest activity recorded following treatment with an extract at a concentration of 400-800 μg/ml. The analysis for surface markers using the FACScalibur showed that the expression of CD56 (NK cell surface marker) was elevated and the expression of CD19 had dropped in our subjects by day 14 of ginkgo ingestion. There was no significant difference in surface markers after 7 days of ginkgo ingestion.

CONCLUSION

Ginkgo extracts were found to affect immunological activities and surface markers (CD56) in human NK cells. Our results also reveal an optimal range of ginkgo concentration-from 400 to 800 μg/ml-within which its immunopotentiating activity is highest. It took at least 2 weeks to affect surface markers in human NK cells after ginkgo ingestion, and surface markers were not affected after 7 days of ginkgo ingestion.