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Sudharson S, Kalic T, Eckl-Dorna J, Lengger N, Breiteneder H, Hafner C. Modulation of Bronchial Epithelial Barrier Integrity by Low Molecular Weight Components from Birch Pollen. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7374. [PMID: 39000481 PMCID: PMC11242533 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollen, in addition to allergens, comprise low molecular weight components (LMC) smaller than 3 kDa. Emerging evidence indicates the relevance of LMC in allergic immune responses. However, the interaction of birch pollen (BP)-derived LMC and epithelial cells has not been extensively studied. We investigated epithelial barrier modifications induced by exposure to BP LMC, using the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o-. Epithelial cell monolayers were apically exposed to the major BP allergen Bet v 1, aqueous BP extract or BP-derived LMC. Barrier integrity after the treatments was monitored by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance at regular intervals and by using the xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis system. The polarized release of cytokines 24 h following treatment was measured using a multiplex immunoassay. Epithelial barrier integrity was significantly enhanced upon exposure to BP LMC. Moreover, BP LMC induced the repair of papain-mediated epithelial barrier damage. The apical release of CCL5 and TNF-α was significantly reduced after exposure to BP LMC, while the basolateral release of IL-6 significantly increased. In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that BP-derived LMC modify the physical and immunological properties of bronchial epithelial cells and thus regulate airway epithelial barrier responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinidhi Sudharson
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Sankt Poelten, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3100 Sankt Poelten, Austria
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tanja Kalic
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Sankt Poelten, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3100 Sankt Poelten, Austria
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Eckl-Dorna
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Lengger
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Heimo Breiteneder
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Hafner
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Sankt Poelten, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3100 Sankt Poelten, Austria
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2
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Buhner S, Schäuffele S, Giesbertz P, Demir IE, Zeller F, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Schemann M, Gilles S. Allergen-free extracts from birch, ragweed, and hazel pollen activate human and guinea-pig submucous and spinal sensory neurons. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2023:e14559. [PMID: 36989179 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-allergenic, low molecular weight components of pollen grains are suspected to trigger changes in gut functions, sometimes leading to inflammatory conditions. Based on extensive neuroimmune communication in the gut wall, we investigated the effects of aqueous pollen extracts (APE) on enteric and spinal sensory neurons. METHODS Using Ca2+ and fast potentiometric imaging, we recorded the responses of guinea-pig and human submucous and guinea-pig dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons to microejection of low (<3 kDa) and high (≥3 kDa) molecular weight APEs of birch, ragweed, and hazel. Histamine was determined pharmacologically and by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). KEY RESULTS Birch APE<3kDa evoked strong [Ca+2 ]i signals in the vast majority of guinea-pig DRG neurons, and in guinea-pig and human enteric neurons. The effect of birch APE≥3kDa was much weaker. Fast neuroimaging in human enteric neurons revealed an instantaneous spike discharge after microejection of birch, ragweed, and hazel APE<3kDa [median (interquartile range) at 7.0 Hz (6.2/9.8), 5.7 Hz (4.4/7.1), and 8.4 Hz (4.3/12.5), respectively]. The percentage of responding neurons per ganglion were similar [birch 40.0% (33.3/100.0), ragweed 50.8% (34.4/85.6), and hazel 83.3% (57.1/100.0)]. A mixture of histamine receptor (H1-H3) blockers significantly reduced nerve activation evoked by birch and ragweed APEs<3kDa , but was ineffective on hazel. Histamine concentrations in ragweed, birch and hazel APE's < 3 kDa were 0.764, 0.047, and 0.013 μM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Allergen-free APEs from birch, ragweed, and hazel evoked strong nerve activation. Altered nerve-immune signaling as a result of severe pollen exposure could be a pathophysiological feature of allergic and non-allergic gut inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Buhner
- Chair of Human Biology, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Pieter Giesbertz
- Molecular Nutrition Unit, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Zeller
- Department of Surgery, Academic Hospital Freising, Freising, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-Care), Davos, Switzerland
| | - Michael Schemann
- Chair of Human Biology, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
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3
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Luschkova D, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Ludwig A. [Not Available]. HNO-NACHRICHTEN 2023; 53:38-47. [PMID: 36811074 PMCID: PMC9934942 DOI: 10.1007/s00060-023-8490-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Luschkova
- Lehrstuhl und Hochschulambulanz für Umweltmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Augsburg, Neusässer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Deutschland
| | | | - Alika Ludwig
- Umweltmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstr. 2, 86156 Augsburg, Deutschland
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4
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Traidl-Hoffmann C. Pollen on their way astray - First contact via cross-kingdom signaling leading to far-reaching consequences for the atopic march. Allergy 2022; 77:3496-3497. [PMID: 36029177 DOI: 10.1111/all.15496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.,Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany.,CK-CARE, Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos Wolfgang, Switzerland
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5
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Abstract
The climate crisis poses a major challenge to human health as well as the healthcare system and threatens to jeopardize the medical progress made in recent decades. However, addressing climate change may also be the greatest opportunity for global health in the 21st century. The climate crisis and its consequences, such as rising temperatures, forest fires, floods, droughts, and changes in the quality and quantity of food and water, directly and indirectly affect human physical and mental health. More intense and frequent heat waves and declining air quality have been shown to increase all-cause mortality, especially among the most vulnerable. Climate warming alters existing ecosystems and favors biological invasions by species that better tolerate heat and drought. Pathogen profiles are changing, and the transmission and spread of vector-borne diseases are increasing. The spread of neophytes in Europe, such as ragweed, is creating new pollen sources that increase allergen exposure for allergy sufferers. In addition, the overall milder weather, especially in combination with air pollution and increased CO2 levels, is changing the production and allergenicity of pollen. The phenomenon of thunderstorm asthma is also occurring more frequently. In view of the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases due to climate change, early causal immunomodulatory therapy is therefore all the more important. During a climate consultation, patients can receive individual advice on climate adaptation and resilience and the benefits of CO2 reduction-for their own and the planet's health. Almost 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe come from the healthcare sector. It thus has a central responsibility for a climate-neutral and sustainable transformation.
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6
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Alessandrini F, de Jong R, Wimmer M, Maier AM, Fernandez I, Hils M, Buters JT, Biedermann T, Zissler UM, Hoffmann C, Esser-von-Bieren J, Schmidt-Weber CB, Ohnmacht C. Lung Epithelial CYP1 Activity Regulates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Dependent Allergic Airway Inflammation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:901194. [PMID: 35734174 PMCID: PMC9207268 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.901194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The lung epithelial barrier serves as a guardian towards environmental insults and responds to allergen encounter with a cascade of immune reactions that can possibly lead to inflammation. Whether the environmental sensor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) together with its downstream targets cytochrome P450 (CYP1) family members contribute to the regulation of allergic airway inflammation remains unexplored. By employing knockout mice for AhR and for single CYP1 family members, we found that AhR-/- and CYP1B1-/- but not CYP1A1-/- or CYP1A2-/- animals display enhanced allergic airway inflammation compared to WT. Expression analysis, immunofluorescence staining of murine and human lung sections and bone marrow chimeras suggest an important role of CYP1B1 in non-hematopoietic lung epithelial cells to prevent exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation. Transcriptional analysis of murine and human lung epithelial cells indicates a functional link of AhR to barrier protection/inflammatory mediator signaling upon allergen challenge. In contrast, CYP1B1 deficiency leads to enhanced expression and activity of CYP1A1 in lung epithelial cells and to an increased availability of the AhR ligand kynurenic acid following allergen challenge. Thus, differential CYP1 family member expression and signaling via the AhR in epithelial cells represents an immunoregulatory layer protecting the lung from exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Alessandrini
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Renske de Jong
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Wimmer
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ann-Marie Maier
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Isis Fernandez
- Member of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Partner Site, Munich, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Pneumology Centre, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Miriam Hils
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology Biederstein, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeroen T. Buters
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilo Biedermann
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology Biederstein, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Clinical Unit Allergology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich M. Zissler
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Member of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Partner Site, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Esser-von-Bieren
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Member of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL), Partner Site, Munich, Germany
| | - Caspar Ohnmacht
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Caspar Ohnmacht,
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7
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Luschkova D, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Ludwig A. Klimawandel und Allergien. ALLERGO JOURNAL 2022; 31:44-53. [PMID: 35757154 PMCID: PMC9207859 DOI: 10.1007/s15007-022-5030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Die Klimakrise stellt eine große Herausforderung für die menschliche Gesundheit sowie das Gesundheitssystem dar und droht, den medizinischen Fortschritt der letzten Jahrzehnte zu gefährden. In der Bewältigung des Klimawandels könnte jedoch auch die größte Chance für die globale Gesundheit im 21. Jahrhundert liegen. Die Klimakrise und ihre Folgen, wie steigende Temperaturen, Waldbrände, Überschwemmungen, Dürren, Veränderungen in der Qualität und Quantität von Nahrungsmitteln und des Wassers wirken sich direkt und indirekt auf die physische und psychische Gesundheit des Menschen aus. Intensivere und häufigere Hitzewellen und die abnehmende Luftqualität erhöhen nachweislich die Gesamtmortalität, insbesondere bei den am meisten vulnerablen Personen. Die Klimaerwärmung verändert die bestehenden Ökosysteme und begünstigt biologische Invasionen von Arten, die Wärme und Trockenheit besser tolerieren. Die Erregerprofile verändern sich, die Übertragung und Verbreitung von durch Vektoren übertragene Krankheiten nehmen zu. Durch die Ausbreitung von Neophyten in Europa, wie beispielsweise der Ambrosiapflanze, entstehen neue Pollenquellen, die die Allergenexposition für Allergiker*innen erhöhen. Darüber hinaus verändert die insgesamt mildere Witterung, gerade in Kombination mit der Luftverschmutzung und einem erhöhten CO2-Gehalt, die Produktion und Allergenität von Pollen. Das Phänomen Thunderstorm-Asthma tritt zudem häufiger auf. Angesichts der durch den Klimawandel zunehmenden Prävalenz von allergischen Erkrankungen ist eine frühzeitige kausale immunmodulierende Therapie umso wichtiger. Im Rahmen einer Klimasprechstunde können Patient*innen individuell bezüglich einer Klimaadaption und -resilienz und der Vorteile einer CO2-Reduzierung beraten werden - für die eigene und die planetare Gesundheit. Fast 5 % aller Treibhausgasemissionen in Europa stammen aus dem Gesundheitssektor. Er hat damit eine zentrale Verantwortung für eine klimaneutrale und nachhaltige Transformation. Zitierweise: Luschkova D, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Ludwig A. Climate change and allergies. Allergo J Int 2022;31:114-20 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-022-00212-x
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8
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Luschkova D, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Ludwig A. [Not Available]. CME (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 19:65-74. [PMID: 36536648 PMCID: PMC9750725 DOI: 10.1007/s11298-022-3034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Die Klimakrise stellt eine große Herausforderung für die menschliche Gesundheit sowie das Gesundheitssystem dar und droht, den medizinischen Fortschritt der letzten Jahrzehnte zu gefährden. In der Bewältigung des Klimawandels könnte jedoch auch die größte Chance für die globale Gesundheit im 21. Jahrhundert liegen.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Luschkova
- Lehrstuhl und Hochschulambulanz für Umweltmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Augsburg, Neusässer Straße 47, 86156 Augsburg, Deutschland
| | | | - Alika Ludwig
- Umweltmedizin, Universität Augsburg, Augsburg, Deutschland
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9
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Potocki L, Karbarz M, Adamczyk-Grochala J, Kasprzyk I, Pawlina-Tyszko K, Lewinska A, Wnuk M. Silver birch pollen-derived microRNAs promote NF-κB-mediated inflammation in human lung cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149531. [PMID: 34392209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The pollen of Betula pendula Roth (silver birch) is considered to be the main cause of allergy-related rhinitis in Europe and its protein-based allergens such as Bet v 1 are well characterized. However, little is known about non-protein components of birch pollen, e.g., small RNAs and their proinflammatory activity. In the present study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic approaches were used for silver birch pollen (SBP)-derived microRNA profiling and evaluation of microRNA target genes and pathways in human. Human lung cells, namely WI-38 fibroblasts and A549 alveolar epithelial cells were then stimulated with SBP microRNA in vitro and imaging cytometry-based analysis of the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, autophagy parameters and small RNA processing regulators was conducted. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that SBP microRNA may interfere with autophagy, inflammation and allergy pathways in human. SBP and SBP-derived microRNA induced NF-κB-mediated proinflammatory response in human lung cells as judged by increased levels of NF-κB p65, IL-8 and TNFα. NSUN2 and NSUN5 were involved in pollen-derived microRNA processing. Pollen-derived microRNA also modulated autophagic pathway by changes in the pools of LC3B and p62 that may affect autophagy-based adaptive responses during allergic lung inflammation. We postulate that SBP-derived microRNAs can be considered as novel proinflammatory environmental agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leszek Potocki
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Karbarz
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Jagoda Adamczyk-Grochala
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Idalia Kasprzyk
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Klaudia Pawlina-Tyszko
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland
| | - Anna Lewinska
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland.
| | - Maciej Wnuk
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszow, Poland.
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10
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Abstract
The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing rapidly and has already reached an epidemic level. Two major drivers of this development are climate change and globalization, which both induce an increase in allergens. Concomitant climate change fosters the spreading of the latter on a global scale. The increase in allergens not only aggravates the symptoms and the degree of suffering for patients who already are allergic, but also gives rise to new cases of allergies. The distribution of allergies in society follows a steep socioeconomic gradient worldwide. According to well-established theories of justice such a distribution of the allergy burden is unfair. This fact adds a major ethical dimension and challenge to the allergy epidemic. This chapter draws on the key points of policies for allergy prevention and treatment. It shows how related programs and measures can be conceptualized and prioritized according to the principles of distributional justice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Heuson
- Zentrum für Klimaresilienz, Universität Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
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11
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Visez N, de Nadaï P, Choël M, Farah J, Hamzé M, Sénéchal H, Pauwels M, Frérot H, Thibaudon M, Poncet P. Biochemical composition of Phleum pratense pollen grains: A review. Mol Immunol 2021; 136:98-109. [PMID: 34098345 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Poaceae family is composed of 12,000 plant species. Some of these species produce highly allergenic anemophilous pollen grains (PGs). Phleum pratense pollen grains (PPPGs) emerged as a model for studies related to grass allergy. The biochemical composition of allergenic PGs has not yet been fully described despite potential health effects of PG constituents other than allergenic proteins. This review brings together the information available in literature aiming at creating a comprehensive picture of the current knowledge about the chemical composition of allergenic PGs from timothy grass. PPPGs have an average diameter between 30-35 μm and the mass of a single PG was reported between 11 and 26 ng. The pollen cytoplasm is filled with two types of pollen cytoplasmic granules (PCGs): the starch granules and the polysaccharide particles (p-particles). Starch granules have a size between 0.6-2.5 μm with an average diameter of 1.1 μm (estimated number of 1000 granules per PG) while p-particles have a size ranging around 0.3 to 0.4 μm (estimated number between 61,000-230,000 p-particles per PG). The rupture of PG induces the release of PCGs and the dispersion of allergens in the inhalable fraction of atmospheric aerosol. PPPGs are composed of sporopollenin, sugars, polysaccharides, starch, glycoproteins (including allergens), amino-acids, lipids, flavonoids (including isorhamnetin), various elements (the more abundant being Si, Mg and Ca), phenolic compounds, phytoprostanoids, carotenoids (pigments) metals and adsorbed pollutants. PPPG contains about a hundred different proteins with molecular masses ranging from 10 to 94 kDa, with isoelectric points from 3.5-10.6. Among these proteins, allergens are classified in eleven groups from 1 to 13 with allergens from groups 1 and 5 being the major contributors to Phl p pollen allergy. Major allergen Phl p 5 was quantified in PPPGs by several studies with concentration ranging from 2.7 and 3.5 μg.mg-1 in unpolluted environment. Values for other allergens are scarce in literature; only one quantitative assessment exists for allergen groups Phl p 1, 2 and 4. The extractible lipid fraction of PPPGs is estimated between 1.7-2.2% of the total PG mass. The main chemical families of lipids reported in PPPGs are: alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, di- and tri-hydroxylated fatty acids, aldehydes and sterols. Several lipid compounds with potential adjuvant effects on allergy have been specifically quantified in PPPGs: E2-like prostaglandin (PGE2), B4-like leukotriene (LTB4), unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids and their hydroxylated derivatives), adenosine, vitamins and phenolic compounds. Some other biochemical characteristics such as NAD(P)H oxidase, protease activity and pollen microbiome were described in the literature. The bioaccessibility in physiological conditions has not been described for most biochemicals transported by allergenic PPPGs. There is also a considerable lack of knowledge about the potential health effects of pollen constituents other than allergens. The variability of pollen composition remains also largely unknown despite its importance for plant reproduction and allergy in an environment characterized by chemical pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Visez
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8522 - PC2A - Physicochimie des Processus de Combustion et de l'Atmosphère, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Patricia de Nadaï
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Marie Choël
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516 - LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Interactions, la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France.
| | - Jinane Farah
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8522 - PC2A - Physicochimie des Processus de Combustion et de l'Atmosphère, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Mona Hamzé
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8522 - PC2A - Physicochimie des Processus de Combustion et de l'Atmosphère, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516 - LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Interactions, la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Hélène Sénéchal
- Immunology Department, Allergy & Environment Team, Children Armand Trousseau Hospital APHP, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Pauwels
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516 - LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Interactions, la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Hélène Frérot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516 - LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Interactions, la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, Le Plat du Pin, 69690, Brussieu, France
| | - Pascal Poncet
- Immunology Department, Allergy & Environment Team, Children Armand Trousseau Hospital APHP, 75012, Paris, France; Immunology Department, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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12
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Rauer D, Gilles S, Wimmer M, Frank U, Mueller C, Musiol S, Vafadari B, Aglas L, Ferreira F, Schmitt‐Kopplin P, Durner J, Winkler JB, Ernst D, Behrendt H, Schmidt‐Weber CB, Traidl‐Hoffmann C, Alessandrini F. Ragweed plants grown under elevated CO 2 levels produce pollen which elicit stronger allergic lung inflammation. Allergy 2021; 76:1718-1730. [PMID: 33037672 DOI: 10.1111/all.14618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common ragweed has been spreading as a neophyte in Europe. Elevated CO2 levels, a hallmark of global climate change, have been shown to increase ragweed pollen production, but their effects on pollen allergenicity remain to be elucidated. METHODS Ragweed was grown in climate-controlled chambers under normal (380 ppm, control) or elevated (700 ppm, based on RCP4.5 scenario) CO2 levels. Aqueous pollen extracts (RWE) from control- or CO2 -pollen were administered in vivo in a mouse model for allergic disease (daily for 3-11 days, n = 5) and employed in human in vitro systems of nasal epithelial cells (HNECs), monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs), and HNEC-DC co-cultures. Additionally, adjuvant factors and metabolites in control- and CO2 -RWE were investigated using ELISA and untargeted metabolomics. RESULTS In vivo, CO2 -RWE induced stronger allergic lung inflammation compared to control-RWE, as indicated by lung inflammatory cell infiltrate and mediators, mucus hypersecretion, and serum total IgE. In vitro, HNECs stimulated with RWE increased indistinctively the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-1β, and IL-6). In contrast, supernatants from CO2 -RWE-stimulated HNECs, compared to control-RWE-stimulated HNECS, significantly increased TNF and decreased IL-10 production in DCs. Comparable results were obtained by stimulating DCs directly with RWEs. The metabolome analysis revealed differential expression of secondary plant metabolites in control- vs CO2 -RWE. Mixes of these metabolites elicited similar responses in DCs as compared to respective RWEs. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that elevated ambient CO2 levels elicit a stronger RWE-induced allergic response in vivo and in vitro and that RWE increased allergenicity depends on the interplay of multiple metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Rauer
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Maria Wimmer
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München Munich Germany
- Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL) Munich Germany
| | - Ulrike Frank
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology (BIOP) Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany
| | - Constanze Mueller
- BGC Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany
| | - Stephanie Musiol
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München Munich Germany
- Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL) Munich Germany
| | - Behnam Vafadari
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Lorenz Aglas
- Department of Biosciences University of Salzburg Salzburg Austria
| | - Fatima Ferreira
- Department of Biosciences University of Salzburg Salzburg Austria
| | | | - Jörg Durner
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology (BIOP) Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany
| | - Jana Barbro Winkler
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany
| | - Dieter Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology (BIOP) Helmholtz Zentrum München Neuherberg Germany
| | - Heidrun Behrendt
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München Munich Germany
| | - Carsten B. Schmidt‐Weber
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München Munich Germany
- Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL) Munich Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl‐Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
- Outpatient Clinic for Environmental Medicine University Clinic Augsburg Augsburg Germany
- Christine‐Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK‐Care) Davos Switzerland
| | - Francesca Alessandrini
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Zentrum München Munich Germany
- Members of the German Center of Lung Research (DZL) Munich Germany
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13
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Klimczak LJ, von Eschenbach CE, Thompson PM, Buters JT, Mueller GA. Mixture Analyses of Air-sampled Pollen Extracts Can Accurately Differentiate Pollen Taxa. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2020; 243:117746. [PMID: 32922147 PMCID: PMC7485930 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The daily pollen forecast provides crucial information for allergic patients to avoid exposure to specific pollen. Pollen counts are typically measured with air samplers and analyzed with microscopy by trained experts. In contrast, this study evaluated the effectiveness of identifying the component pollens using the metabolites extracted from an air-sampled pollen mixture. Ambient air-sampled pollen from Munich in 2016 and 2017 was visually identified from reference pollens and extracts were prepared. The extracts were lyophilized, rehydrated in optimal NMR buffers, and filtered to remove large proteins. NMR spectra were analyzed for pollen associated metabolites. Regression and decision-tree based algorithms using the concentration of metabolites, calculated from the NMR spectra outperformed algorithms using the NMR spectra themselves as input data for pollen identification. Categorical prediction algorithms trained for low, medium, high, and very high pollen count groups had accuracies of 74% for the tree, 82% for the grass, and 93% for the weed pollen count. Deep learning models using convolutional neural networks performed better than regression models using NMR spectral input, and were the overall best method in terms of relative error and classification accuracy (86% for tree, 89% for grass, and 93% for weed pollen count). This study demonstrates that NMR spectra of air-sampled pollen extracts can be used in an automated fashion to provide taxa and type-specific measures of the daily pollen count.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cordula Ebner von Eschenbach
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter M. Thompson
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jeroen T.M. Buters
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
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14
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Challenges for the Newborn Immune Response to Respiratory Virus Infection and Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040558. [PMID: 32987691 PMCID: PMC7712002 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial months of life reflect an extremely challenging time for newborns as a naïve immune system is bombarded with a large array of pathogens, commensals, and other foreign entities. In many instances, the immune response of young infants is dampened or altered, resulting in increased susceptibility and disease following infection. This is the result of both qualitative and quantitative changes in the response of multiple cell types across the immune system. Here we provide a review of the challenges associated with the newborn response to respiratory viral pathogens as well as the hurdles and advances for vaccine-mediated protection.
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15
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Pointner L, Bethanis A, Thaler M, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Gilles S, Ferreira F, Aglas L. Initiating pollen sensitization - complex source, complex mechanisms. Clin Transl Allergy 2020; 10:36. [PMID: 32884636 PMCID: PMC7461309 DOI: 10.1186/s13601-020-00341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms involved in the induction of allergic sensitization by pollen are not fully understood. Within the last few decades, findings from epidemiological and experimental studies support the notion that allergic sensitization is not only dependent on the genetics of the host and environmental factors, but also on intrinsic features of the allergenic source itself. In this review, we summarize the current concepts and newest advances in research focusing on the initial mechanisms inducing pollen sensitization. Pollen allergens are embedded in a complex and heterogeneous matrix composed of a myriad of bioactive molecules that are co-delivered during the allergic sensitization. Surprisingly, several purified allergens were shown to lack inherent sensitizing potential. Thus, growing evidence supports an essential role of pollen-derived components co-delivered with the allergens in the initiation of allergic sensitization. The pollen matrix, which is composed by intrinsic molecules (e.g. proteins, metabolites, lipids, carbohydrates) and extrinsic compounds (e.g. viruses, particles from air pollutants, pollen-linked microbiome), provide a specific context for the allergen and has been proposed as a determinant of Th2 polarization. In addition, the involvement of various pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), secreted alarmins, innate immune cells, and the dependency of DCs in driving pollen-induced Th2 inflammatory processes suggest that allergic sensitization to pollen most likely results from particular combinations of pollen-specific signals rather than from a common determinant of allergenicity. The exact identification and characterization of such pollen-derived Th2-polarizing molecules should provide mechanistic insights into Th2 polarization and pave the way for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies against pollen allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pointner
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Athanasios Bethanis
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael Thaler
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Augsburg, Germany
- Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-Care), Davos, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Fatima Ferreira
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Lorenz Aglas
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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16
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Gilles S, Blume C, Wimmer M, Damialis A, Meulenbroek L, Gökkaya M, Bergougnan C, Eisenbart S, Sundell N, Lindh M, Andersson L, Dahl Å, Chaker A, Kolek F, Wagner S, Neumann AU, Akdis CA, Garssen J, Westin J, Land B, Davies DE, Traidl‐Hoffmann C. Pollen exposure weakens innate defense against respiratory viruses. Allergy 2020; 75:576-587. [PMID: 31512243 DOI: 10.1111/all.14047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hundreds of plant species release their pollen into the air every year during early spring. During that period, pollen allergic as well as non-allergic patients frequently present to doctors with severe respiratory tract infections. Our objective was therefore to assess whether pollen may interfere with antiviral immunity. METHODS We combined data from real-life human exposure cohorts, a mouse model and human cell culture to test our hypothesis. RESULTS Pollen significantly diminished interferon-λ and pro-inflammatory chemokine responses of airway epithelia to rhinovirus and viral mimics and decreased nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factors. In mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus, co-exposure to pollen caused attenuated antiviral gene expression and increased pulmonary viral titers. In non-allergic human volunteers, nasal symptoms were positively correlated with airborne birch pollen abundance, and nasal birch pollen challenge led to downregulation of type I and -III interferons in nasal mucosa. In a large patient cohort, numbers of rhinoviruspositive cases were correlated with airborne birch pollen concentrations. CONCLUSION The ability of pollen to suppress innate antiviral immunity, independent of allergy, suggests that high-risk population groups should avoid extensive outdoor activities when pollen and respiratory virus seasons coincide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Gilles
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Cornelia Blume
- Faculty of Medicine Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Southampton Southampton UK
- Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit University Hospital Southampton Southampton UK
| | - Maria Wimmer
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
- Division of Pharmacology Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Science Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Laura Meulenbroek
- Division of Pharmacology Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Science Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology Nutricia Research Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Mehmet Gökkaya
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Carolin Bergougnan
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Selina Eisenbart
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Nicklas Sundell
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Virology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Magnus Lindh
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Virology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Lars‐Magnus Andersson
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Virology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Åslög Dahl
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Faculty of Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Adam Chaker
- ENT Department Klinikum Rechts der Isar Technical University of Munich Munich Germany
| | - Franziska Kolek
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Sabrina Wagner
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Avidan U. Neumann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
| | - Cezmi A. Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) University Zurich Davos Switzerland
- Christine‐Kühne‐Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK‐Care) Davos Switzerland
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Science Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology Nutricia Research Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Johan Westin
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Clinical Virology University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Belinda Land
- Department of Immunology Nutricia Research Utrecht The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology The Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Donna E. Davies
- Faculty of Medicine Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of Southampton Southampton UK
- Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit University Hospital Southampton Southampton UK
| | - Claudia Traidl‐Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine UNIKA‐T Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München Augsburg Germany
- Christine‐Kühne‐Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK‐Care) Davos Switzerland
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17
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Buters J, Behrendt H, Raulf M. Allergien und Umwelteinflüsse. ALLERGO JOURNAL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s15007-019-1835-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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18
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Božičević A, De Mieri M, Nassenstein C, Wiegand S, Hamburger M. Secondary Metabolites in Allergic Plant Pollen Samples Modulate Afferent Neurons and Murine Tracheal Rings. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2017; 80:2953-2961. [PMID: 29112407 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Plant pollens are strong airborne elicitors of asthma. Their proteinaceous allergens have been studied intensively, but little is known about a possible contribution of pollen secondary metabolites to the nonallergic exacerbation of asthma. Pollen samples originating from 30 plant species were analyzed by HPLC coupled to PDA, ESIMS, and ELSD detectors and off-line NMR spectroscopy. Polyamine conjugates, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactones were identified. Polyamine conjugates were characteristic of all Asteraceae species. The presence of sesquiterpene lactones in Asteraceae pollen varied between species and pollen lots. All plant pollen, including those from non-Asteraceae species, contained to some extent electrophiles as determined by their reaction with N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Selected pollen extracts and pure compounds were tested in murine afferent neurons and in murine tracheal preparations. Tetrahydrofuran extracts of Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia psilostachya pollen and a mixture of sesquiterpene lactones coronopilin/parthenin increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in 15%, 32%, and 37% of cinnamaldehyde-responsive neurons, respectively. In organ bath experiments, only the sesquiterpene lactones tested induced a weak dilatation of naïve tracheas and strongly lowered the maximal methacholine-induced tracheal constriction. A tetrahydrofuran extract of A. psilostachya and coronopilin/parthenin led to a time-dependent relaxation of the methacholine-preconstricted trachea. These results provide the first evidence for a potential role of pollen secondary metabolites in the modulation of the tracheal tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alen Božičević
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria De Mieri
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christina Nassenstein
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University , Aulweg 123, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL) , Aulweg 130, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Silke Wiegand
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University , Aulweg 123, D-35385 Giessen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung (DZL) , Aulweg 130, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Matthias Hamburger
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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19
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Roberts G, Boyle R, Crane J, Hogan SP, Saglani S, Wickman M, Woodfolk JA. Developments in the field of allergy in 2016 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy. Clin Exp Allergy 2017; 47:1512-1525. [PMID: 29068551 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we described the development in the field of allergy as described by Clinical and Experimental Allergy in 2016. Experimental models of allergic disease, basic mechanisms, clinical mechanisms, allergens, asthma and rhinitis, and clinical allergy are all covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Roberts
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences and Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.,The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK
| | - R Boyle
- Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - J Crane
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - S P Hogan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - S Saglani
- National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M Wickman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J A Woodfolk
- Division of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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20
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Allergy genuflection? It's surmount with special focus on ear, nose and throat. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2017; 45:592-601. [PMID: 28161280 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2016.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The system that protects body from infectious agents is immune system. On occasions, the system seldom reacts with some foreign particles and causes allergy. Allergies of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) often have serious consequences, including impairment and emotional strain that lowers the quality of life of patients. This is further responsible for the common cold, cough, tonsillitis, dermal infection, chest pain and asthma-like conditions which disturb one's day to day life. The present review enlightens some common ENT allergies which one can suffer more frequently in one's lifetime, and ignorance leads to making the condition chronic. Information regarding pathophysiology and the management of ENT allergy by this review could help clinicians and common people to better understand the circumstances and treatment of ENT allergy.
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21
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Mueller GA, Thompson PM, DeRose EF, O’Connell TM, London RE. A metabolomic, geographic, and seasonal analysis of the contribution of pollen-derived adenosine to allergic sensitization. Metabolomics 2016; 12:187. [PMID: 28798556 PMCID: PMC5546310 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-016-1130-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on ragweed and birch pollen extracts suggested that the adenosine content is an important factor in allergic sensitization. However, exposure levels from other pollens and considerations of geographic and seasonal factors have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE This study compared the metabolite profile of pollen species important for allergic disease, specifically measured the adenosine content, and evaluated exposure to pollen-derived adenosine. METHODS An NMR metabolomics approach was used to measure metabolite concentrations in twenty-six pollen extracts. Pollen count data was analyzed from five cities to model exposure. RESULTS A principal component analysis of the various metabolites identified by NMR showed that pollen extracts could be differentiated primarily by sugar content: glucose, fructose, sucrose, and myo-inositol. In extracts of 10 mg of pollen/ml, the adenosine was highest for grasses (45 μM) followed by trees (23 μM) and weeds (19 μM). Pollen count data showed that tree pollen was typically 5-10 times the amount of other pollens. At the daily peaks of tree, grass, and weed season the pollen-derived adenosine exposure per day is likely to only be 1.1, 0.11, and 0.12 μg, respectively. Seasonal models of pollen exposure and respiration suggest that it would be a rare event limited to tree pollen season for concentrations of pollen-derived adenosine to approach physiological levels. CONCLUSIONS Sugar content and other metabolites may be useful in classifying pollens. Unless other factors create localized exposures that are very different from these models, pollen-derived adenosine is unlikely to be a major factor in allergic sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey A. Mueller
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity and Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Corresponding Author: 111 T.W. Alexander Drive MD-MR01, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709,
| | - Peter M. Thompson
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity and Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
| | - Eugene F. DeRose
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity and Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
| | - Thomas M. O’Connell
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Robert E. London
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity and Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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22
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Abstract
Cellular stress or apoptosis triggers the release of ATP, ADP and other nucleotides into the extracellular space. Extracellular nucleotides function as autocrine and paracrine signalling molecules by activating cell-surface P2 purinergic receptors that elicit pro-inflammatory immune responses. Over time, extracellular nucleotides are metabolized to adenosine, leading to reduced P2 signalling and increased signalling through anti-inflammatory adenosine (P1 purinergic) receptors. Here, we review how local purinergic signalling changes over time during tissue responses to injury or disease, and we discuss the potential of targeting purinergic signalling pathways for the immunotherapeutic treatment of ischaemia, organ transplantation, autoimmunity or cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caglar Cekic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Joel Linden
- Division of Developmental Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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23
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Gilles-Stein S, Beck I, Chaker A, Bas M, McIntyre M, Cifuentes L, Petersen A, Gutermuth J, Schmidt-Weber C, Behrendt H, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Pollen derived low molecular compounds enhance the human allergen specific immune response in vivo. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 46:1355-65. [PMID: 27061126 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides allergens, pollen release bioactive, low molecular weight compounds that modulate and stimulate allergic reactions. Clinical relevance of these substances has not been investigated to date. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the effect of a non-allergenic, low molecular weight factors from aqueous birch pollen extracts (Bet-APE < 3 kDa) on the human allergic immune response in vivo. METHODS Birch and grass pollen allergic individuals underwent skin prick testing with allergen alone, allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, or allergen plus pre-identified candidate substances from low molecular pollen fraction. Nasal allergen challenges were performed in non-atopic and pollen allergic individuals using a 3 day repeated threshold challenge battery. Subjects were either exposed to allergen alone or to allergen plus Bet-APE< 3 kDa. Local cytokine levels, nasal secretion weights, nasal congestion and symptom scores were determined. RESULTS Skin prick test reactions to pollen elicited larger weals when allergens were tested together with the low molecular weight compounds from pollen. Similar results were obtained with candidate pollen-associated lipid mediators. In nasal lining fluids of allergic patients challenged with allergen plus Bet-APE < 3 kDa, IL-8 and IgE was significantly increased as compared to allergen-only challenged patients. These patients also produced increased amounts of total nasal secretion and reported more severe rhinorrhea than the allergen-only challenged group. CONCLUSIONS Low molecular compounds from pollen enhance the allergen specific immune response in the skin and nose. They are therefore of potential clinical relevance in allergic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gilles-Stein
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany. .,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland.
| | - I Beck
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - A Chaker
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M Bas
- ENT Department, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M McIntyre
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - L Cifuentes
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Molecular Immunology, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - A Petersen
- Division of Clinical and Molecular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
| | - J Gutermuth
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Schmidt-Weber
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - H Behrendt
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - C Traidl-Hoffmann
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Augsburg, Germany.,ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.,Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK Care), Davos, Switzerland
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24
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Obersteiner A, Gilles S, Frank U, Beck I, Häring F, Ernst D, Rothballer M, Hartmann A, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Schmid M. Pollen-Associated Microbiome Correlates with Pollution Parameters and the Allergenicity of Pollen. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149545. [PMID: 26910418 PMCID: PMC4765992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollen allergies have been rapidly increasing over the last decades. Many allergenic proteins and non-allergenic adjuvant compounds of pollen are involved in the plant defense against environmental or microbial stress. The first aim of this study was to analyze and compare the colonizing microbes on allergenic pollen. The second aim was to investigate detectable correlations between pollen microbiota and parameters of air pollution or pollen allergenicity. To reach these aims, bacterial and fungal DNA was isolated from pollen samples of timothy grass (Phleum pratense, n = 20) and birch trees (Betula pendula, n = 55). With this isolated DNA, a terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed. One result was that the microbial diversity on birch tree and timothy grass pollen samples (Shannon/Simpson diversity indices) was partly significantly correlated to allergenicity parameters (Bet v 1/Phl p 5, pollen-associated lipid mediators). Furthermore, the microbial diversity on birch pollen samples was correlated to on-site air pollution (nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), and ozone (O3)). What is more, a significant negative correlation was observed between the microbial diversity on birch pollen and the measured NO2 concentrations on the corresponding trees. Our results showed that the microbial composition of pollen was correlated to environmental exposure parameters alongside with a differential expression of allergen and pollen-associated lipid mediators. This might translate into altered allergenicity of pollen due to environmental and microbial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Obersteiner
- Research Unit Microbe-Plant Interactions, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
- CK Care, Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Frank
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München–German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Isabelle Beck
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Häring
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Dietrich Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München–German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Rothballer
- Research Unit Microbe-Plant Interactions, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anton Hartmann
- Research Unit Microbe-Plant Interactions, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
- CK Care, Christine-Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Michael Schmid
- Research Unit Microbe-Plant Interactions, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Centre for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
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25
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Oeder S, Alessandrini F, Wirz OF, Braun A, Wimmer M, Frank U, Hauser M, Durner J, Ferreira F, Ernst D, Mempel M, Gilles S, Buters JTM, Behrendt H, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Schmidt-Weber C, Akdis M, Gutermuth J. Pollen-derived nonallergenic substances enhance Th2-induced IgE production in B cells. Allergy 2015. [PMID: 26214762 DOI: 10.1111/all.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND B cells play a central role in IgE-mediated allergies. In damaged airway epithelium, they are exposed directly to aeroallergens. We aimed to assess whether direct exposure of B cells to pollen constituents affects allergic sensitization. METHODS B cells from murine splenocytes and from blood samples of healthy donors were incubated for 8 days under Th2-like conditions with aqueous ragweed pollen extracts (Amb-APE) or its constituents. Secreted total IgM, IgG, and IgE was quantified by ELISA. Additionally, birch, grass, or pine-pollen extracts were tested. The number of viable cells was evaluated by ATP measurements. B-cell proliferation was measured by CFSE staining. IgE class switch was analyzed by quantitation of class switch transcripts. In an OVA/Alum i.p.-sensitization mouse model, Amb-APE was intranasally instilled for 11 consecutive days. RESULTS Upon Th2 priming of murine B cells, ragweed pollen extract caused a dose-dependent increase in IgE production, while IgG and IgM were not affected. The low-molecular-weight fraction and phytoprostane E1 (PPE1) increased IgE production, while Amb a 1 did not. PPE1 enhanced IgE also in human memory B cells. Under Th1 conditions, Amb-APE did not influence immunoglobulin secretion. The IgE elevation was not ragweed specific. It correlated with proliferation of viable B cells, but not with IgE class switch. In vivo, Amb-APE increased total IgE and showed adjuvant activity in allergic airway inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Aqueous pollen extracts, the protein-free fraction of Amb-APE, and the pollen-contained substance PPE1 specifically enhance IgE production in Th2-primed B cells. Thus, pollen-derived nonallergenic substances might be responsible for B-cell-dependent aggravation of IgE-mediated allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Oeder
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
| | - F. Alessandrini
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
| | - O. F. Wirz
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF); Davos Switzerland
| | - A. Braun
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology; University Medical Center; Georg August University; Göttingen Germany
| | - M. Wimmer
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - U. Frank
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Center Munich; Neuherberg Germany
| | - M. Hauser
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Biology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - J. Durner
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Center Munich; Neuherberg Germany
| | - F. Ferreira
- Department of Molecular Biology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - D. Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Center Munich; Neuherberg Germany
| | - M. Mempel
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology; University Medical Center; Georg August University; Göttingen Germany
| | - S. Gilles
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - J. T. M. Buters
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
| | - H. Behrendt
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
| | - C. Traidl-Hoffmann
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; CK-CARE; Davos Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - C. Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
| | - M. Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF); Davos Switzerland
| | - J. Gutermuth
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Department of Dermatology; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
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26
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Wimmer M, Alessandrini F, Gilles S, Frank U, Oeder S, Hauser M, Ring J, Ferreira F, Ernst D, Winkler JB, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Ohnmacht C, Behrendt H, Schmidt-Weber C, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Gutermuth J. Pollen-derived adenosine is a necessary cofactor for ragweed allergy. Allergy 2015; 70:944-54. [PMID: 25939785 DOI: 10.1111/all.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a strong elicitor of allergic airway inflammation with worldwide increasing prevalence. Various components of ragweed pollen are thought to play a role in the development of allergic responses. The aim of this study was to identify critical factors for allergenicity of ragweed pollen in a physiological model of allergic airway inflammation. METHODS Aqueous ragweed pollen extract, the low molecular weight fraction or the major allergen Amb a 1 was instilled intranasally on 1-11 consecutive days, and allergic airway inflammation was evaluated by bronchoalveolar lavage, lung histology, serology, gene expression in lung tissue, and measurement of lung function. Pollen-derived adenosine was removed from the extract enzymatically to analyze its role in ragweed-induced allergy. Migration of human neutrophils and eosinophils toward supernatants of ragweed-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells was analyzed. RESULTS Instillation of ragweed pollen extract, but not of the major allergen or the low molecular weight fraction, induced specific IgG1 , pulmonary infiltration with inflammatory cells, a Th2-associated cytokine signature in pulmonary tissue, and impaired lung function. Adenosine aggravated ragweed-induced allergic lung inflammation. In vitro, human neutrophils and eosinophils migrated toward supernatants of bronchial epithelial cells stimulated with ragweed extract only if adenosine was present. CONCLUSIONS Pollen-derived adenosine is a critical factor in ragweed-pollen-induced allergic airway inflammation. Future studies aim at therapeutic strategies to control these allergen-independent pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Wimmer
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
| | - F. Alessandrini
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
| | - S. Gilles
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
| | - U. Frank
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Zentrum München; Munich Germany
| | - S. Oeder
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. Hauser
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy; Department of Molecular Biology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - J. Ring
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein; TU Munich; Munich Germany
| | - F. Ferreira
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy; Department of Molecular Biology; University of Salzburg; Salzburg Austria
| | - D. Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Zentrum München; Munich Germany
| | - J. B. Winkler
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation at the Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology; Helmholtz Zentrum München; Munich Germany
| | - P. Schmitt-Kopplin
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry; Helmholtz Zentrum München; Munich Germany
- Analytical Food Chemistry; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
| | - C. Ohnmacht
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
| | - H. Behrendt
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
| | - C. Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
| | - C. Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität München; Munich Germany
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education; Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein; TU Munich; Munich Germany
| | - J. Gutermuth
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM); Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München; Member of the German Center for Lung research (DZL); Munich Germany
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein; TU Munich; Munich Germany
- Department of Dermatology; Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussel Belgium
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27
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Blume C, Swindle EJ, Gilles S, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Davies DE. Low molecular weight components of pollen alter bronchial epithelial barrier functions. Tissue Barriers 2015; 3:e1062316. [PMID: 26451347 PMCID: PMC4574901 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1062316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bronchial epithelium plays a key role in providing a protective barrier against many environmental substances of anthropogenic or natural origin which enter the lungs during breathing. Appropriate responses to these agents are critical for regulation of tissue homeostasis, while inappropriate responses may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Here, we compared epithelial barrier responses to different pollen species, characterized the active pollen components and the signaling pathways leading to epithelial activation. Polarized bronchial cells were exposed to extracts of timothy grass (Phleum pratense), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), birch (Betula alba) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollens. All pollen species caused a decrease in ionic permeability as monitored trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TER) and induced polarized release of mediators analyzed by ELISA, with grass pollen showing the highest activity. Ultrafiltration showed that the responses were due to components <3kDa. However, lipid mediators, including phytoprostane E1, had no effect on TER, and caused only modest induction of mediator release. Reverse-phase chromatography separated 2 active fractions: the most hydrophilic maximally affected cytokine release whereas the other only affected TER. Inhibitor studies revealed that JNK played a more dominant role in regulation of barrier permeability in response to grass pollen exposure, whereas ERK and p38 controlled cytokine release. Adenosine and the flavonoid isorhamnetin present in grass pollen contributed to the overall effect on airway epithelial barrier responses. In conclusion, bronchial epithelial barrier functions are differentially affected by several low molecular weight components released by pollen. Furthermore, ionic permeability and innate cytokine production are differentially regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Blume
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
| | - Emily J Swindle
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
| | - Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität Munich ; Munich, Germany ; CK CARE; Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education ; Davos, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine; UNIKA-T; Technische Universität Munich ; Munich, Germany ; CK CARE; Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education ; Davos, Switzerland
| | - Donna E Davies
- Brooke Laboratory; Clinical and Experimental Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK ; Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit; University Hospital Southampton ; Southampton, UK
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28
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Buters J, Prank M, Sofiev M, Pusch G, Albertini R, Annesi-Maesano I, Antunes C, Behrendt H, Berger U, Brandao R, Celenk S, Galan C, Grewling Ł, Jackowiak B, Kennedy R, Rantio-Lehtimäki A, Reese G, Sauliene I, Smith M, Thibaudon M, Weber B, Cecchi L. Variation of the group 5 grass pollen allergen content of airborne pollen in relation to geographic location and time in season. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 136:87-95.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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29
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Prado N, De Linares C, Sanz ML, Gamboa P, Villalba M, Rodríguez R, Batanero E. Pollensomes as Natural Vehicles for Pollen Allergens. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:445-9. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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30
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Asam C, Batista AL, Moraes AH, de Paula VS, Almeida FCL, Aglas L, Kitzmüller C, Bohle B, Ebner C, Ferreira F, Wallner M, Valente AP. Bet v 1--a Trojan horse for small ligands boosting allergic sensitization? Clin Exp Allergy 2015; 44:1083-93. [PMID: 24979350 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Revised: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birch pollen allergy represents the main cause of winter and spring pollinosis in the temperate climate zone of the northern hemisphere and sensitization towards Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, affects over 100 million allergic patients. The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 has been described as promiscuous acceptor for a wide variety of hydrophobic ligands. OBJECTIVE In search of intrinsic properties of Bet v 1, which account responsible for the high allergenic potential of the protein, we thought to investigate the effects of ligand-binding on immunogenic as well as allergenic properties. METHODS As surrogate ligand of Bet v 1 sodium deoxycholate (DOC) was selected. Recombinant and natural Bet v 1 were characterised physico-chemically as well as immunologically in the presence or absence of DOC, and an animal model of allergic sensitization was established. Moreover, human IgE binding to Bet v 1 was analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. RESULTS Ligand-binding had an overall stabilizing effect on Bet v 1. This translated in a Th2 skewing of the immune response in a mouse model. Analyses of human IgE binding on Bet v 1 in mediator release assays revealed that ligand-bound allergen-induced degranulation at lower concentrations; however, in basophil activation tests with human basophils ligand-binding did not show this effect. For the first time, human IgE epitopes on Bet v 1 were determined using antibodies isolated from patients' sera. The IgE epitope mapping of Bet v 1 demonstrated the presence of multiple binding regions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Deoxycholate binding stabilizes conformational IgE epitopes on Bet v 1; however, the epitopes themselves remain unaltered. Therefore, we speculate that humans are exposed to both ligand-bound and free Bet v 1 during sensitization, disclosing the ligand-binding cavity of the allergen as key structural element.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Asam
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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31
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Gilles S, Beck I, Lange S, Ring J, Behrendt H, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Non-allergenic factors from pollen modulate T helper cell instructing notch ligands on dendritic cells. World Allergy Organ J 2015; 8:2. [PMID: 25610519 PMCID: PMC4300172 DOI: 10.1186/s40413-014-0054-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pollen allergens are delivered to epithelial surfaces of the upper respiratory tract in conjunction with multiple endogenous adjuvants. We previously demonstrated pollen-mediated modulation of cytokine and chemokine production of dendritic cells, contributing to a Th2-dominated micromilieu. As T helper cell differentiation not only depends on dendritic cell-derived cytokines but also on cell-cell-contact mediated mechanisms, we studied the expression of notch ligands and myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) in dendritic cells matured in the presence of aqueous birch pollen extracts and pollen-associated E1-phytoprostanes. METHODS Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells were stimulated with aqueous birch pollen extracts in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide, and mRNA expression levels of notch ligands delta-1 and -4, jagged-1 and -2 and of myd88 were determined. Regulation of Delta-4 and MyD88 by aqueous pollen extracts was assessed on protein level. The contribution of notch signaling to T helper cell differentiation was analyzed in allogeneic T cell stimulation assays. RESULTS In immature dendritic cells, stimulation with pollen extracts resulted in an induction of both delta and jagged notch ligands. The lipopolysaccharide-induced up-regulation of delta-1 and -4 and of myd88 was decreased by aqueous pollen extracts, whereas jagged expression was induced. Reduction of Delta-4 and MyD88 by aqueous pollen extracts was confirmed on protein level. The Th2-skewing activity was contained in a fraction of aqueous pollen extracts enriched for molecules <3 kDa and was distinct from the previously identified E1-phytoprostanes. Reduction of notch signaling in dendritic cells matured in the presence aqueous pollen extract leads to inhibition of IL-10 and to induction of IL-5 production in naïve T cells differentiated by these dendritic cells. CONCLUSIONS Pollen derived, non-allergenic factors reduce the dendritic cell's expression of Th1 instructing Delta-like notch ligands and of MyD88, thereby promoting Th2 skewing of T helper cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, medical faculty of the Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany ; CK-Care, Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Beck
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, medical faculty of the Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Lange
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, medical faculty of the Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Ring
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Heidrun Behrendt
- ZAUM - Center for Allergy and Environment, Helmholtz Center and Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, medical faculty of the Technische Universität München, Augsburg, Germany ; CK-Care, Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland ; Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
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32
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Gilles S, Traidl-Hoffmann C. The environment-pathogen-host axis in communicable and non-communicable diseases: recent advances in experimental and clinical research. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2015; 12:395-9. [PMID: 24797745 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Allergies and autoimmune diseases are spreading worldwide. Control of infections, on the other hand, remains an issue, even in the post-antibiotic era. Chronic or poorly controlled infections occur in immune compromised individuals such as HIV patients, hospitalized patients exposed to multi-resistant bacteria, or patients on immunosuppressive treatment. They may become an even more emerging issue in an ageing population. At the same time, profound environmental changes such as global warming, urbanization, increasing environmental pollution and novel food engineering technologies may alter the abundance or aggressiveness of allergens/allergen carriers in our environment. Likewise, changes in dietary habits - and possibly also use of antibiotics - have an impact on the composition of our natural microbial flora in the gut, airways and skin, which may alter susceptibility for common diseases, among them allergies, asthma and atopic eczema. At the recently founded Institute of Environmental Medicine of the Technische Universität Munich, located in Augsburg at the UNIKA-T, experimental, clinical and translational research is focused on the complex interactions of environment, pathogen and host in expression or control of communicable and non-communicable diseases. We present our research concept and recent findings in environment - host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental medicine, UNIKA-T, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany; CK-Care, Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland
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El Kelish A, Zhao F, Heller W, Durner J, Winkler JB, Behrendt H, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Horres R, Pfeifer M, Frank U, Ernst D. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen allergenicity: SuperSAGE transcriptomic analysis upon elevated CO2 and drought stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 14:176. [PMID: 24972689 PMCID: PMC4084800 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-14-176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pollen of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a main cause of allergic diseases in Northern America. The weed has recently become spreading as a neophyte in Europe, while climate change may also affect the growth of the plant and additionally may also influence pollen allergenicity. To gain better insight in the molecular mechanisms in the development of ragweed pollen and its allergenic proteins under global change scenarios, we generated SuperSAGE libraries to identify differentially expressed transcripts. RESULTS Ragweed plants were grown in a greenhouse under 380 ppm CO2 and under elevated level of CO2 (700 ppm). In addition, drought experiments under both CO2 concentrations were performed. The pollen viability was not altered under elevated CO2, whereas drought stress decreased its viability. Increased levels of individual flavonoid metabolites were found under elevated CO2 and/or drought. Total RNA was isolated from ragweed pollen, exposed to the four mentioned scenarios and four SuperSAGE libraries were constructed. The library dataset included 236,942 unique sequences, showing overlapping as well as clear differently expressed sequence tags (ESTs). The analysis targeted ESTs known in Ambrosia, as well as in pollen of other plants. Among the identified ESTs, those encoding allergenic ragweed proteins (Amb a) increased under elevated CO2 and drought stress. In addition, ESTs encoding allergenic proteins in other plants were also identified. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of changes in the transcriptome of ragweed pollen upon CO2 and drought stress using SuperSAGE indicates that under global change scenarios the pollen transcriptome was altered, and impacts the allergenic potential of ragweed pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr El Kelish
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Feng Zhao
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Werner Heller
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Durner
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Biochemical Plant Pathology, Technische Universität München, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - J Barbro Winkler
- Research Unit for Environmental Simulation, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Heidrun Behrendt
- Center of Allergy & Environment München (ZAUM), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ralf Horres
- GenXPro GmbH, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Matthias Pfeifer
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Frank
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- CK-CARE, Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
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Liukko ALK, Kinnunen TT, Rytkönen-Nissinen MA, Kailaanmäki AHT, Randell JT, Maillère B, Virtanen TI. Human CD4+ T cell responses to the dog major allergen Can f 1 and its human homologue tear lipocalin resemble each other. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98461. [PMID: 24875388 PMCID: PMC4038554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipocalin allergens form a notable group of proteins, as they contain most of the significant respiratory allergens from mammals. The basis for the allergenic capacity of allergens in the lipocalin family, that is, the development of T-helper type 2 immunity against them, is still unresolved. As immunogenicity has been proposed to be a decisive feature of allergens, the purpose of this work was to examine human CD4+ T cell responses to the major dog allergen Can f 1 and to compare them with those to its human homologue, tear lipocalin (TL). For this, specific T cell lines were induced in vitro from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Can f 1-allergic and healthy dog dust-exposed subjects with peptides containing the immunodominant T cell epitopes of Can f 1 and the corresponding TL peptides. We found that the frequency of Can f 1 and TL-specific T cells in both subject groups was low and close to each other, the difference being about two-fold. Importantly, we found that the proliferative responses of both Can f 1 and TL-specific T cell lines from allergic subjects were stronger than those from healthy subjects, but that the strength of the responses within the subject groups did not differ between these two antigens. Moreover, the phenotype of the Can f 1 and TL-specific T cell lines, determined by cytokine production and expression of cell surface markers, resembled each other. The HLA system appeared to have a minimal role in explaining the allergenicity of Can f 1, as the allergic and healthy subjects' HLA background did not differ, and HLA binding was very similar between Can f 1 and TL peptides. Along with existing data on lipocalin allergens, we conclude that strong antigenicity is not decisive for the allergenicity of Can f 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino L. K. Liukko
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tuure T. Kinnunen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marja A. Rytkönen-Nissinen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Institute of Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anssi H. T. Kailaanmäki
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka T. Randell
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Bernard Maillère
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut de Biologie et de Technologies, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Tuomas I. Virtanen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Gilles S, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Die Achse Umwelt-Erreger-Wirt bei übertragbaren und nicht übertragbaren Krankheiten: Jüngste Fortschritte in der experimentellen und klinischen Forschung. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/ddg.12345_suppl] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Gilles
- Institute of Environmental medicine; UNIKA-T, Klinikum rechts der Isar; Technische Universität München; Germany
- CK-Care, Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education; Davos-Wolfgang Schweiz
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental medicine; UNIKA-T, Klinikum rechts der Isar; Technische Universität München; Germany
- CK-Care, Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education; Davos-Wolfgang Schweiz
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Beck I, Jochner S, Gilles S, McIntyre M, Buters JTM, Schmidt-Weber C, Behrendt H, Ring J, Menzel A, Traidl-Hoffmann C. High environmental ozone levels lead to enhanced allergenicity of birch pollen. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80147. [PMID: 24278250 PMCID: PMC3835901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence is compelling for a positive correlation between climate change, urbanisation and prevalence of allergic sensitisation and diseases. The reason for this association is not clear to date. Some data point to a pro-allergenic effect of anthropogenic factors on susceptible individuals. Objectives To evaluate the impact of urbanisation and climate change on pollen allergenicity. Methods Catkins were sampled from birch trees from different sites across the greater area of Munich, pollen were isolated and an urbanisation index, NO2 and ozone exposure were determined. To estimate pollen allergenicity, allergen content and pollen-associated lipid mediators were measured in aqueous pollen extracts. Immune stimulatory and modulatory capacity of pollen was assessed by neutrophil migration assays and the potential of pollen to inhibit dendritic cell interleukin-12 response. In vivo allergenicity was assessed by skin prick tests. Results The study revealed ozone as a prominent environmental factor influencing the allergenicity of birch pollen. Enhanced allergenicity, as assessed in skin prick tests, was mirrored by enhanced allergen content. Beyond that, ozone induced changes in lipid composition and chemotactic and immune modulatory potential of the pollen. Higher ozone-exposed pollen was characterised by less immune modulatory but higher immune stimulatory potential. Conclusion It is likely that future climate change along with increasing urbanisation will lead to rising ozone concentrations in the next decades. Our study indicates that ozone is a crucial factor leading to clinically relevant enhanced allergenicity of birch pollen. Thus, with increasing temperatures and increasing ozone levels, also symptoms of pollen allergic patients may increase further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Beck
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy & Environment, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany
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Abstract
Activation of receptors of the innate immune system is a critical step in the initiation of immune responses. It has been shown that dominant allergens have properties that could allow them to interact with toll-like and C-type lectin receptors to favour Th2-biased responses and many bind lipids and glycans that could associate with ligands to mimic pathogen-associated microbial patterns. In accord with the proposed allergen-specific innate interactions it has been shown that the immune responses to different allergens and antigens from the same source are not necessarily coordinately regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- W R Thomas
- Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
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38
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Mittag D, Varese N, Scholzen A, Mansell A, Barker G, Rice G, Rolland JM, O'Hehir RE. TLR ligands of ryegrass pollen microbial contaminants enhance Th1 and Th2 responses and decrease induction of Foxp3hiregulatory T cells. Eur J Immunol 2013; 43:723-33. [DOI: 10.1002/eji.201242747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anja Scholzen
- Department of Immunology; Monash University; Melbourne; Australia
| | - Ashley Mansell
- Monash Institute of Medical Research; Monash University; Melbourne; Australia
| | - Gillian Barker
- Translational Proteomics; Baker Heart Institute; Melbourne; Australia
| | - Gregory Rice
- Translational Proteomics; Baker Heart Institute; Melbourne; Australia
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Pazmandi K, Kumar BV, Szabo K, Boldogh I, Szoor A, Vereb G, Veres A, Lanyi A, Rajnavolgyi E, Bacsi A. Ragweed subpollen particles of respirable size activate human dendritic cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52085. [PMID: 23251688 PMCID: PMC3522620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen grains, which are generally considered too large to reach the lower respiratory tract, release subpollen particles (SPPs) of respirable size upon hydration. These SPPs contain allergenic proteins and functional NAD(P)H oxidases. In this study, we examined whether exposure to SPPs initiates the activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs). We found that treatment with freshly isolated ragweed SPPs increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in moDCs. Phagocytosis of SPPs by moDCs, as demonstrated by confocal laser-scanning microscopy, led to an up-regulation of the cell surface expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DQ and an increase in the production of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10. Furthermore, SPP-treated moDCs had an increased capacity to stimulate the proliferation of naïve T cells. Co-culture of SPP-treated moDCs with allogeneic CD3+ pan-T cells resulted in increased secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 by T cells of both allergic and non-allergic subjects, but induced the production of IL-4 exclusively from the T cells of allergic individuals. Addition of exogenous NADPH further increased, while heat-inactivation or pre-treatment with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidases, strongly diminished, the ability of SPPs to induce phenotypic and functional changes in moDCs, indicating that these processes were mediated, at least partly, by the intrinsic NAD(P)H oxidase activity of SPPs. Collectively, our data suggest that inhaled ragweed SPPs are fully capable of activating dendritic cells (DCs) in the airways and SPPs' NAD(P)H oxidase activity is involved in initiation of adaptive immune responses against innocuous pollen proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitti Pazmandi
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Brahma V. Kumar
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Szabo
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Istvan Boldogh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Arpad Szoor
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gyorgy Vereb
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Agota Veres
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Arpad Lanyi
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Eva Rajnavolgyi
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Attila Bacsi
- Department of Immunology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- * E-mail:
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40
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Papadopoulos NG, Agache I, Bavbek S, Bilo BM, Braido F, Cardona V, Custovic A, Demonchy J, Demoly P, Eigenmann P, Gayraud J, Grattan C, Heffler E, Hellings PW, Jutel M, Knol E, Lötvall J, Muraro A, Poulsen LK, Roberts G, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Skevaki C, Triggiani M, Vanree R, Werfel T, Flood B, Palkonen S, Savli R, Allegri P, Annesi-Maesano I, Annunziato F, Antolin-Amerigo D, Apfelbacher C, Blanca M, Bogacka E, Bonadonna P, Bonini M, Boyman O, Brockow K, Burney P, Buters J, Butiene I, Calderon M, Cardell LO, Caubet JC, Celenk S, Cichocka-Jarosz E, Cingi C, Couto M, Dejong N, Del Giacco S, Douladiris N, Fassio F, Fauquert JL, Fernandez J, Rivas MF, Ferrer M, Flohr C, Gardner J, Genuneit J, Gevaert P, Groblewska A, Hamelmann E, Hoffmann HJ, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Hovhannisyan L, Hox V, Jahnsen FL, Kalayci O, Kalpaklioglu AF, Kleine-Tebbe J, Konstantinou G, Kurowski M, Lau S, Lauener R, Lauerma A, Logan K, Magnan A, Makowska J, Makrinioti H, Mangina P, Manole F, Mari A, Mazon A, Mills C, Mingomataj E, Niggemann B, Nilsson G, Ollert M, O'Mahony L, O'Neil S, Pala G, Papi A, Passalacqua G, Perkin M, Pfaar O, Pitsios C, Quirce S, Raap U, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Rhyner C, Robson-Ansley P, Alves RR, Roje Z, Rondon C, Rudzeviciene O, Ruëff F, Rukhadze M, Rumi G, Sackesen C, Santos AF, Santucci A, Scharf C, Schmidt-Weber C, Schnyder B, Schwarze J, Senna G, Sergejeva S, Seys S, Siracusa A, Skypala I, Sokolowska M, Spertini F, Spiewak R, Sprikkelman A, Sturm G, Swoboda I, Terreehorst I, Toskala E, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Venter C, Vlieg-Boerstra B, Whitacker P, Worm M, Xepapadaki P, Akdis CA. Research needs in allergy: an EAACI position paper, in collaboration with EFA. Clin Transl Allergy 2012; 2:21. [PMID: 23121771 PMCID: PMC3539924 DOI: 10.1186/2045-7022-2-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In less than half a century, allergy, originally perceived as a rare disease, has become a major public health threat, today affecting the lives of more than 60 million people in Europe, and probably close to one billion worldwide, thereby heavily impacting the budgets of public health systems. More disturbingly, its prevalence and impact are on the rise, a development that has been associated with environmental and lifestyle changes accompanying the continuous process of urbanization and globalization. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prioritize and concert research efforts in the field of allergy, in order to achieve sustainable results on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this most prevalent chronic disease of the 21st century.The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is the leading professional organization in the field of allergy, promoting excellence in clinical care, education, training and basic and translational research, all with the ultimate goal of improving the health of allergic patients. The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) is a non-profit network of allergy, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) patients' organizations. In support of their missions, the present EAACI Position Paper, in collaboration with EFA, highlights the most important research needs in the field of allergy to serve as key recommendations for future research funding at the national and European levels.Although allergies may involve almost every organ of the body and an array of diverse external factors act as triggers, there are several common themes that need to be prioritized in research efforts. As in many other chronic diseases, effective prevention, curative treatment and accurate, rapid diagnosis represent major unmet needs. Detailed phenotyping/endotyping stands out as widely required in order to arrange or re-categorize clinical syndromes into more coherent, uniform and treatment-responsive groups. Research efforts to unveil the basic pathophysiologic pathways and mechanisms, thus leading to the comprehension and resolution of the pathophysiologic complexity of allergies will allow for the design of novel patient-oriented diagnostic and treatment protocols. Several allergic diseases require well-controlled epidemiological description and surveillance, using disease registries, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, as well as large biobanks. Additionally, there is a need for extensive studies to bring promising new biotechnological innovations, such as biological agents, vaccines of modified allergen molecules and engineered components for allergy diagnosis, closer to clinical practice. Finally, particular attention should be paid to the difficult-to-manage, precarious and costly severe disease forms and/or exacerbations. Nonetheless, currently arising treatments, mainly in the fields of immunotherapy and biologicals, hold great promise for targeted and causal management of allergic conditions. Active involvement of all stakeholders, including Patient Organizations and policy makers are necessary to achieve the aims emphasized herein.
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Dai S, Chen S. Single-cell-type proteomics: toward a holistic understanding of plant function. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012; 11:1622-30. [PMID: 22982375 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.r112.021550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellular organisms such as plants contain different types of cells with specialized functions. Analyzing the protein characteristics of each type of cell will not only reveal specific cell functions, but also enhance understanding of how an organism works. Most plant proteomics studies have focused on using tissues and organs containing a mixture of different cells. Recent single-cell-type proteomics efforts on pollen grains, guard cells, mesophyll cells, root hairs, and trichomes have shown utility. We expect that high resolution proteomic analyses will reveal novel functions in single cells. This review provides an overview of recent developments in plant single-cell-type proteomics. We discuss application of the approach for understanding important cell functions, and we consider the technical challenges of extending the approach to all plant cell types. Finally, we consider the integration of single-cell-type proteomics with transcriptomics and metabolomics with the goal of providing a holistic understanding of plant function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Dai
- Department of Biology, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Ruiter B, Shreffler WG. Innate immunostimulatory properties of allergens and their relevance to food allergy. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34:617-32. [PMID: 22886110 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0334-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 07/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Food allergy is an increasingly prevalent disease of immune dysregulation directed to a small subset of proteins. Shared structural and functional features of allergens, such as glycosylation, lipid-binding and protease activity may provide insight into the mechanisms involved in the induction of primary Th2 immune responses. We review the literature of innate Th2-type immune activation as a context for better understanding the properties of allergens that contribute to the induction of Th2-biased immune responses in at least a subset of individuals. Th2-priming signals have been largely identified in the context of parasite immunity and wound healing. Some of the features of parasite antigens and the innate immune responses to them are now understood to play a role in allergic inflammation as well. These include both exogenous and endogenous activators of innate immunity and subsequent release of key cytokine mediators such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-25 and IL-33. Moreover, numerous innate immune cells including epithelium, dendritic cells, basophils, innate lymphoid cells and others all interact to shape the adaptive Th2 immune response. Progress toward understanding Th2-inducing innate immune signals more completely may lead to novel strategies for primary prevention and therapy of respiratory and food allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Ruiter
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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43
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Wambre E, James EA, Kwok WW. Characterization of CD4+ T cell subsets in allergy. Curr Opin Immunol 2012; 24:700-6. [PMID: 22889592 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2012.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Allergen specific T(H)2 cells are a key component of allergic disease, but their characterization has been hindered by technical limitations and lack of epitope data. Knowledge about the factors that drive the differentiation of naïve T cells into allergy-promoting T(H)2 cells and the influence of allergen specific immunotherapy on the phenotype and function of allergen-specific T cells have also been limited. Recent advances indicate that innate and adaptive immune factors drive the development of diverse subsets of allergen-specific T cells. While allergen-specific T cells are present even in non-allergic subjects, highly differentiated T(H)2 cells are present only in allergic subjects and their disappearance correlates with successful immunotherapy. Therefore, elimination of pathogenic T(H)2 cells is an essential step in tolerance induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Wambre
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA
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Philbin VJ, Dowling DJ, Gallington LC, Cortés G, Tan Z, Suter EE, Chi KW, Shuckett A, Stoler-Barak L, Tomai M, Miller RL, Mansfield K, Levy O. Imidazoquinoline Toll-like receptor 8 agonists activate human newborn monocytes and dendritic cells through adenosine-refractory and caspase-1-dependent pathways. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 130:195-204.e9. [PMID: 22521247 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Newborns have frequent infections and manifest impaired vaccine responses, motivating a search for neonatal vaccine adjuvants. Alum is a neonatal adjuvant but might confer a T(H)2 bias. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are candidate adjuvants, but human neonatal cord blood monocytes demonstrate impaired T(H)1-polarizing responses to many TLR agonists caused by plasma adenosine acting through cyclic AMP. TLR8 agonists, including imidazoquinolines (IMQs), such as the small synthetic 3M-002, induce adult-level TNF from neonatal monocytes, but the scope and mechanisms of IMQ-induced activation of neonatal monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) have not been reported. OBJECTIVE We sought to characterize IMQ-induced activation of neonatal monocytes and MoDCs. METHODS Neonatal cord and adult peripheral blood monocytes and MoDCs were cultured in autologous plasma; levels of alum- and TLR agonist-induced cytokines and costimulatory molecules were measured. TLR8 and inflammasome function were assayed by using small interfering RNA and Western blotting/caspase-1 inhibitory peptide, respectively. The ontogeny of TLR8 agonist-induced cytokine responses was defined in rhesus macaque whole blood ex vivo. RESULTS IMQs were more potent and effective than alum at inducing TNF and IL-1β from monocytes. 3M-002 induced robust TLR pathway transcriptome activation and T(H)1-polarizing cytokine production in neonatal and adult monocytes and MoDCs, signaling through TLR8 in an adenosine/cyclic AMP-refractory manner. Newborn MoDCs displayed impaired LPS/ATP-induced caspase-1-mediated IL-1β production but robust 3M-002-induced caspase-1-mediated inflammasome activation independent of exogenous ATP. TLR8 IMQs induced robust TNF and IL-1β in whole blood of rhesus macaques at birth and infancy. CONCLUSIONS IMQ TLR8 agonists engage adenosine-refractory TLR8 and inflammasome pathways to induce robust monocyte and MoDC activation and represent promising neonatal adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Philbin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Advances in mechanisms of asthma, allergy, and immunology in 2011. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129:335-41. [PMID: 22284930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 12/09/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
2011 was marked by rapid progress in the identification of basic mechanisms of allergic disease and the translation of these mechanisms into human cell systems. Studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology this year provided new insights into the molecular determinants of allergenicity, as well as the environmental, cellular, and genetic factors involved in sensitization to allergens. Several articles focused on mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy and the development of novel strategies to achieve tolerance to allergens. Additional studies identified substantial contributions from T(H)17-type cells and cytokines to human disease pathogenesis. Finally, new therapeutic applications of anti-IgE were identified. The highlights of these studies and their potential clinical implications are summarized in this review.
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An update on the role of human dendritic cells in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129:879-86. [PMID: 22385631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.01.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are without a doubt important key skin cells that connect information from the environment with the innate and adaptive immune system. Their function is decisive for the initiation and inhibition of immune responses, and therefore they play a central role for both the healthy and diseased states of the skin. The type, maturation stage, and function of DCs, as well as the micromilieu in which they are located and their contact with cellular partners in the surrounding area, are important cofactors that direct maintenance of immune homeostasis or breakout of inflammatory reactions in patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. Thus better knowledge about the exact proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties of DCs in patients with atopic dermatitis and the disease-specific roles of DC subtypes would allow us to target these important immune cells with versatile functions for therapeutic purpose.
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Virtanen T, Kinnunen T, Rytkönen-Nissinen M. Mammalian lipocalin allergens--insights into their enigmatic allergenicity. Clin Exp Allergy 2011; 42:494-504. [PMID: 22093088 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03903.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Revised: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 10/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Most of the important mammal-derived respiratory allergens, as well as a milk allergen and a few insect allergens, belong to the lipocalin protein family. As mammalian lipocalin allergens are found in dander, saliva and urine, they disperse effectively and are widely present in the indoor environments. Initially, lipocalins were characterized as transport proteins for small, principally hydrophobic molecules, but now they are known to be involved in many other biological functions. Although the amino acid identity between lipocalins is generally at the level of 20-30%, it can be considerably higher. Lipocalin allergens do not exhibit any known physicochemical, functional or structural property that would account for their allergenicity, that is, the capacity to induce T-helper type 2 immunity against them. A distinctive feature of mammalian lipocalin allergens is their poor capacity to stimulate the cellular arm of the human or murine immune system. Nevertheless, they induce IgE production in a large proportion of atopic individuals exposed to the allergen source. The poor capacity of mammalian lipocalin allergens to stimulate the cellular immune system does not appear to result from the function of regulatory T cells. Instead, the T cell epitopes of mammalian lipocalin allergens are few and those examined have proved to be suboptimal. Moreover, the frequency of mammalian lipocalin allergen-specific CD4(+) T cells is very low in the peripheral blood. Importantly, recent research suggests that the lipocalin allergen-specific T cell repertoires differ considerably between allergic and healthy subjects. These observations are compatible with our hypothesis that the way CD4(+) T-helper cells recognize the epitopes of mammalian lipocalin allergens may be implicated in their allergenicity. Indeed, as several lipocalins exhibit homologies of 40-60% over species, mammalian lipocalin allergens may be immunologically at the borderline of self and non-self, which would not allow a strong anti-allergenic immune response against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Virtanen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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