Seasonal Allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterized by runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus p... more Seasonal Allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterized by runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus pressure. A clinical study was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of Lertal®, an innovative food supplement containing Quercetin, Perilla frutescens and Vitamin D3 formu-lated in a double layer "fast-slow" release tablet form, in the relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and in the reduction of consumption of anti-allergic drugs. 23 subjects enrolled in the open clinical study had at least one year history of allergic rhinitis and positive skin prick test or RAST to Parietaria officinalis pollen. At baseline, the subjects had symptoms of nasal and/or ocular seasonal allergic rhinitis. The activity of the food supplement was evaluated using the Total Symptoms Score at first (baseline) and second (final) visit, after one month of supplementation. The consumption of anti-allergic drugs was also evaluated. All subjects enrolled completed the study. The comparison of the scores obtained in the two visits (baseline and final) showed a highly significant reduction of the overall symptoms: approximately 70% for symptom scores and 73% in use of anti-allergic drugs. Sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, ocular itching, lacrimation and congestion of the conjunctiva, all showed a highly significant reduction. No noteworthy side effect was recorded and all patients finished the study with good compliance. The results showed a clear efficacy of the food supplement Lertal® in reducing nasal and/or eye symptoms. This activity was objectively confirmed by the reduction in the consumption of anti-allergic drugs used to relieve symptoms. (www.actabiomedica.it).
European annals of allergy and clinical immunology, 2007
The current burden of allergic diseases, estimated by both direct and indirect costs, is very rel... more The current burden of allergic diseases, estimated by both direct and indirect costs, is very relevant. In fact the cost estimation for rhinitis amount globally to 4-10 billion dollars/year in the U.S. and to an average annual cost of 1089 euros per child/adolescent and 1543 euros per adult in Europe. The estimated annual costs in Northern America for asthma amounted to 14 billion dollars. Consequently, preventive strategies aimed at reducing the clinical severity of allergy are potentially able to reduce its costs. Among them, specific immunotherapy (SIT) joins to the preventive capacity the carryover effect once treatment is discontinued. A number of studies, mainly conducted in the US and Germany demonstrated a favourable cost-benefit balance. In the nineties, most surveys on patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma reported significant reductions of the direct and indirect costs in subjects treated with SIT compared to those treated with symptomatic drugs. This is fully confir...
European annals of allergy and clinical immunology, 2005
Respiratory allergy to conifers pollens is a growing phenomenon all over the world (Mediterranean... more Respiratory allergy to conifers pollens is a growing phenomenon all over the world (Mediterranean area, USA, Japan). In France and Italy Cupressus sempervirens is the commonest offender. To check the efficacy of specific immunotherapy by the sublingual route using a monomeric allergoid of Cupressus Arizonica pollen. 20 patients and 10 controls were randomly selected. The diagnosis was assessed on a clinical hivernal symptomatology of allergic rhinitis, and/or asthma, positive skin test and RAST, and nasal provocation test to Cupressus arizonica. The extract was a monomeric allergoid titrated in allergenic units (AU). The treatment was coseasonal from the beginning of december to the end of march. It was not conducted double blind. The evaluation of the allergenic potency of native and modified Cupressus arizonica extracts have shown that the modified extract has a decreased skin test IgE binding capacity. According to symptom, drug consumption scores and nasal provocation test, ther...
Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology
Two groups of 15 patients with respiratory allergy due to the pollen of Parietaria judaica were s... more Two groups of 15 patients with respiratory allergy due to the pollen of Parietaria judaica were studied; one received a treatment of oral specific hyposensitization, the other one a placebo. All of them were monosensitized and clinically matched according to age, gender, score symptoms, drug consumption, skin test and RAST, and nasal or bronchial provocation test. The pollen counts were the same during this period. The study was double-blind and lasted 2 years. The clinical tests including score symptoms, drug consumption, and nasal or bronchial provocation test, revealed a statistically significant improvement in the treated group as compared to the placebo group. No side effects were observed.
Twenty adult patients presenting a respiratory allergy to the pollen of Cupressus sempervirens we... more Twenty adult patients presenting a respiratory allergy to the pollen of Cupressus sempervirens were randomly divided into two groups; one received a placebo the other one an equal mixture of Cupresssus sempervirens and Cryptomeria japonica pollen during a period of 3 years (1993-1996). According to the following criteria: symptoms score, drug consumption, skin test and RAST, nasal provocation test, the results for the treated group were statistically better than those for the placebo group. No side effects were observed.
We have described ten cases of respiratory allergy to the pollen of Mercurialis annua in the area... more We have described ten cases of respiratory allergy to the pollen of Mercurialis annua in the area of Bordighera (Riviera dei Fiori) on the Italian Mediterranean coast. The incidence of sensitivity is only 0.9% in a population of 1081 patients with pollinosis. Since the Euphorbiaceae family (spurges) contains strongly sensitizing allergens (eg, seeds of Ricinus communis and latex of Hevea brasiliensis) our findings raise the possibility that respiratory allergy to the pollens of Mercurialis annua and other spurges has been underestimated throughout the world.
Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies
To clarify the immunologic changes associated with specific immunotherapy (SIT), we analyzed inte... more To clarify the immunologic changes associated with specific immunotherapy (SIT), we analyzed interleukin (IL)-18 and CD30 serum levels in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis before and after SIT. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the Th1 response. CD30 is a marker of Th2 lymphocytes. We selected 16 healthy donors (HDs) and 16 patients affected by allergic rhinitis, matched for sex and age. Serum IL-18 and CD30 levels were assayed by an immunoenzymatic method. IL-18 serum levels in the patients were lower than in the HDs before SIT (200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL versus 296.50 +/- 66.29 pg/mL; p < 0.05). After SIT, patients showed an increase of serum IL-18 levels (288.69 +/- 146.69 pg/mL versus 200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL; p < 0.05). On the contrary, serum CD30 levels were higher in patients before SIT with respect to HDs (14.78 +/- 8.30 IU/mL versus < 1 IU/mL; p < 0.05). SIT caused a decrease of serum CD30 levels in patients who were allergic...
Allergic rhinitis (AR) may significantly impair quality of life (QoL), and therefore it is import... more Allergic rhinitis (AR) may significantly impair quality of life (QoL), and therefore it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the available treatments on such a parameter. We studied QoL by a real-life model in a large group of patients with rhinitis caused by the most common aeroallergens and assessed the effects of high-dose sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). An overall number of 452 subjects (229 males, 223 females, mean age 25 AE 13 years) was included in the study. Of them, 208 were allergic to house dust mites, 196 to grass pollen, 104 to Parietaria pollen, 48 to olive pollen, 28 to ragweed pollen, and two to cypress pollen. QoL was measured before and after SLIT with the specific questionnaire Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of Life-Questionnaire (RQLQ) introduced and validated by Juniper. At the same time, patients evaluated their clinical status by visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). SLIT was performed by extracts from Stallergénes standardized in index of reactivity (IR) by a build-up phase in 11 days and a maintenance phase with 300 IR three times a week for the duration of the study. All side-effects were registered. The mean RQLQ was 2.93 AE 1.04 before SLIT and 1.50 AE 0.98 after SLIT (P o 0.001), with comparable improvement in the different allergen treatments. The respective mean VAS score was 4.47 AE 2.11 and 6.92 AE 1.64 (P o 0.001). SLIT was completely tolerated in 395 patients (87.4%), while in 57 (12.6%) it gave rise to slight reactions, mostly at the local level in the mouth or in the gastrointestinal tract. High dose SLIT, administered in a clinical model comparable with routine application, provides significant improvement of both clinical status and QoL in patients with AR caused by common aeroallergens.
Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies
Allergen cross-reactions among three strongly sensitizing Euphorbiaceae species, i.e., the rubber... more Allergen cross-reactions among three strongly sensitizing Euphorbiaceae species, i.e., the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), castor bean (Ricinus communis), and the Mediterranean weed Mercurialis annua were studied in Finnish patients (n = 25) allergic to natural rubber latex (NRL), but with no known exposure to castor bean or M. annua, and French patients allergic to castor bean (n = 26) or to M. annua (n = 9), but not to NRL. In immunoglobulin E (IgE)-immunoblotting, 28% of NRL-allergic patient sera recognized castor bean seed and 48% reacted to castor bean pollen proteins. Likewise, 35% of the NRL-allergic patient sera bound to M. annua pollen allergens. Nineteen percent of castor bean-allergic patients showed IgE to NRL and 8% to M. annua proteins. Sera from patients allergic to M. annua reacted in 44% to NRL, in 56% to castor bean seed, and in 78% to castor bean pollen proteins. In immunoblotting, castor bean seed extract inhibited the binding of NRL-reactive IgE to 20 kDa, 30 ...
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2002
Background: Airborne insect antigens represent important aeroallergens which have been widely inv... more Background: Airborne insect antigens represent important aeroallergens which have been widely investigated. Although it has been demonstrated that house dust contains significant silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) levels, none of the extracts obtained so far has been extensively characterized. Thus, we have prepared and characterized a silverfish extract and investigated its IgE-reactive components by testing the reactivity of sera from patients allergic to inhalant insect allergens. Methods: The extract from silverfish insect bodies was prepared by homogenizing frozen silverfish in Tris-HCl buffer. The soluble material (Sup) was filtered and the insoluble material (Ppt) was resuspended in 100 mM Tris pH 10.6. The two fractions were characterized by biochemical and immunochemical methods. IgE reactivity was investigated on both fractions before and after periodate treatment. Results: Protein content and total carbohydrates was 2 and 3% w/w for Sup and 1 and 0.3% w/w for Ppt. The SDS-PA...
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2005
Background:Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica belong to the family Urticaceae, but ar... more Background:Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica belong to the family Urticaceae, but are geographically distantly located. H. integrifolia is an important pollen allergen of India and sensitizes almost 10% of the atopic population in Delhi. P. judaica, on the other hand, is a very dominant pollen allergen of the Mediterranean region, sensitizing almost 80% of the allergic population. Since both these important pollen allergens belong to the family Urticaceae, the objective of the present study was to assess cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens from different geographical regions. Methods: Cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens was assessed on the basis of skin prick tests and ELISA, ELISA inhibition and immunoblot inhibition studies. Results: Out of 44 atopic Indian patients skin prick tested with H. integrifolia extract, 34% were found to be sensitized. All the patients sensitized to H. integrifolia also showed varying degrees of skin positivit...
Alternaria alternata (AA) sensitisation is a common cause of respiratory allergies such as rhinit... more Alternaria alternata (AA) sensitisation is a common cause of respiratory allergies such as rhinitis and asthma. So far there are no controlled double-blind trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in AA allergies. To evaluate the efficacy of SLIT treatment in terms of clinical improvement and rescue medication usage in patients with confirmed AA respiratory allergy. A randomised, parallel group study in 52 subjects was conducted (32 men, mean age 20 ± 9 years) with clinically- and laboratory-confirmed AA respiratory allergies (allergic rhinitis with or without mild-to-moderate asthma). Patients were randomly assigned to SLIT treatment (SLITone Alternaria, ALK-Abellò, Denmark) one vial per day without up-dosing for 3 consecutive years (n = 34) or to a control group (n = 18) with a random allocation ratio of 2:1. Clinical improvement was assessed by evaluating patient-reported outcome (PRO) using a 6 cm visual analogue scale (0: extreme worsening; 3: no change; 6: extreme improvement). The VAS score was evaluated every year with an intra- and inter-group comparison. Rescue medication score (MS) was assessed by evaluating symptomatic drug consumption. After 3 years the VAS score was 4.7 ± 0.8 in the SLIT group and 2 ± 1.6 in the control group (p = 0.0002). Clinical improvement was observed in 33 out of 34 subjects in the SLIT group (97%) and in 5 out of 18 in the control group (27%) (p = 0.0001; Fisher&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s exact test). The MS significantly (p = 0.0001) decreased in the SLIT group from 4.3 to 1.7 at the end of 3 years&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; treatment. In the control group MS increased from 3.4 to 4.0 by the end of the trial. No serious adverse events were observed in the either group. Six patients in the SLIT group (17%) reported side-effects, in general mild and transient. One patient prematurely discontinued the treatment due to gastrointestinal discomfort. The current study has shown that a 3-year course of SLIT is efficacious and well-tolerated in subjects with AA respiratory allergies.
Background: A rapid method for the purification of the major 43-kDa allergen of Cupressus arizoni... more Background: A rapid method for the purification of the major 43-kDa allergen of Cupressus arizonica pollen, Cup a 1, was developed. Methods: The salient feature was a wash of the pollen in acidic buffer, followed by an extraction of the proteins and their purification by chromatography. Immunoblotting, ELISA, and lectin binding were tested on both the crude extract and the purified Cup a 1. Biochemical analyses were performed to assess the Cup a 1 isoelectric point, its partial amino-acid sequence, and its glycan composition. Results: Immunochemical analysis of Cup a 1 confirmed that the allergenic reactivity is maintained after the purification process. Partial amino-acid sequencing indicated a high degree of homology between Cup a 1 and allergenic proteins from the Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae families displaying a similar molecular mass. The purified protein shows one band with an isoelectric point of 5.2. Nineteen out of 33 sera (57%) from patients allergic to cypress demonstrated significant reactivity to purified Cup a 1. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated the presence of three N-linked oligosaccharide structures: GnGnXF 3 (i.e., a horseradish peroxidase-type oligosaccharide substituted with two nonreducing N-acetylglucosamine residues), GGnXF 3 /GnGXF 3 (i.e., GnGnXF with one nonreducing galactose residue), and (GF)GnXF 3 /Gn(GF)XF 3 (with a Lewis a epitope on one arm) in the molar ratio 67:8:23. Conclusions: The rapid purification process of Cup a 1 allowed some fine studies on its properties and structure, as well as the evaluation of its IgE reactivity in native conditions. The similarities of amino-acid sequences and some complex glycan stuctures could explain the high degree of cross-reactivity among the Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae families.
Arthropods and invertebrates allergy (with the exclusion of mites): the concept of panallergy It ... more Arthropods and invertebrates allergy (with the exclusion of mites): the concept of panallergy It is becoming increasingly evident that exposure to arthropods in our immediate environment (at home, outdoors, at work) results in sensitization to arthropods, which can lead to inhalant allergies, namely asthma, allergic rhinitis (cf the works by
Seasonal Allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterized by runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus p... more Seasonal Allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterized by runny nose, congestion, sneezing and sinus pressure. A clinical study was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of Lertal®, an innovative food supplement containing Quercetin, Perilla frutescens and Vitamin D3 formu-lated in a double layer &amp;amp;quot;fast-slow&amp;amp;quot; release tablet form, in the relief of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and in the reduction of consumption of anti-allergic drugs. 23 subjects enrolled in the open clinical study had at least one year history of allergic rhinitis and positive skin prick test or RAST to Parietaria officinalis pollen. At baseline, the subjects had symptoms of nasal and/or ocular seasonal allergic rhinitis. The activity of the food supplement was evaluated using the Total Symptoms Score at first (baseline) and second (final) visit, after one month of supplementation. The consumption of anti-allergic drugs was also evaluated. All subjects enrolled completed the study. The comparison of the scores obtained in the two visits (baseline and final) showed a highly significant reduction of the overall symptoms: approximately 70% for symptom scores and 73% in use of anti-allergic drugs. Sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, ocular itching, lacrimation and congestion of the conjunctiva, all showed a highly significant reduction. No noteworthy side effect was recorded and all patients finished the study with good compliance. The results showed a clear efficacy of the food supplement Lertal® in reducing nasal and/or eye symptoms. This activity was objectively confirmed by the reduction in the consumption of anti-allergic drugs used to relieve symptoms. (www.actabiomedica.it).
European annals of allergy and clinical immunology, 2007
The current burden of allergic diseases, estimated by both direct and indirect costs, is very rel... more The current burden of allergic diseases, estimated by both direct and indirect costs, is very relevant. In fact the cost estimation for rhinitis amount globally to 4-10 billion dollars/year in the U.S. and to an average annual cost of 1089 euros per child/adolescent and 1543 euros per adult in Europe. The estimated annual costs in Northern America for asthma amounted to 14 billion dollars. Consequently, preventive strategies aimed at reducing the clinical severity of allergy are potentially able to reduce its costs. Among them, specific immunotherapy (SIT) joins to the preventive capacity the carryover effect once treatment is discontinued. A number of studies, mainly conducted in the US and Germany demonstrated a favourable cost-benefit balance. In the nineties, most surveys on patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma reported significant reductions of the direct and indirect costs in subjects treated with SIT compared to those treated with symptomatic drugs. This is fully confir...
European annals of allergy and clinical immunology, 2005
Respiratory allergy to conifers pollens is a growing phenomenon all over the world (Mediterranean... more Respiratory allergy to conifers pollens is a growing phenomenon all over the world (Mediterranean area, USA, Japan). In France and Italy Cupressus sempervirens is the commonest offender. To check the efficacy of specific immunotherapy by the sublingual route using a monomeric allergoid of Cupressus Arizonica pollen. 20 patients and 10 controls were randomly selected. The diagnosis was assessed on a clinical hivernal symptomatology of allergic rhinitis, and/or asthma, positive skin test and RAST, and nasal provocation test to Cupressus arizonica. The extract was a monomeric allergoid titrated in allergenic units (AU). The treatment was coseasonal from the beginning of december to the end of march. It was not conducted double blind. The evaluation of the allergenic potency of native and modified Cupressus arizonica extracts have shown that the modified extract has a decreased skin test IgE binding capacity. According to symptom, drug consumption scores and nasal provocation test, ther...
Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology
Two groups of 15 patients with respiratory allergy due to the pollen of Parietaria judaica were s... more Two groups of 15 patients with respiratory allergy due to the pollen of Parietaria judaica were studied; one received a treatment of oral specific hyposensitization, the other one a placebo. All of them were monosensitized and clinically matched according to age, gender, score symptoms, drug consumption, skin test and RAST, and nasal or bronchial provocation test. The pollen counts were the same during this period. The study was double-blind and lasted 2 years. The clinical tests including score symptoms, drug consumption, and nasal or bronchial provocation test, revealed a statistically significant improvement in the treated group as compared to the placebo group. No side effects were observed.
Twenty adult patients presenting a respiratory allergy to the pollen of Cupressus sempervirens we... more Twenty adult patients presenting a respiratory allergy to the pollen of Cupressus sempervirens were randomly divided into two groups; one received a placebo the other one an equal mixture of Cupresssus sempervirens and Cryptomeria japonica pollen during a period of 3 years (1993-1996). According to the following criteria: symptoms score, drug consumption, skin test and RAST, nasal provocation test, the results for the treated group were statistically better than those for the placebo group. No side effects were observed.
We have described ten cases of respiratory allergy to the pollen of Mercurialis annua in the area... more We have described ten cases of respiratory allergy to the pollen of Mercurialis annua in the area of Bordighera (Riviera dei Fiori) on the Italian Mediterranean coast. The incidence of sensitivity is only 0.9% in a population of 1081 patients with pollinosis. Since the Euphorbiaceae family (spurges) contains strongly sensitizing allergens (eg, seeds of Ricinus communis and latex of Hevea brasiliensis) our findings raise the possibility that respiratory allergy to the pollens of Mercurialis annua and other spurges has been underestimated throughout the world.
Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies
To clarify the immunologic changes associated with specific immunotherapy (SIT), we analyzed inte... more To clarify the immunologic changes associated with specific immunotherapy (SIT), we analyzed interleukin (IL)-18 and CD30 serum levels in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis before and after SIT. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the Th1 response. CD30 is a marker of Th2 lymphocytes. We selected 16 healthy donors (HDs) and 16 patients affected by allergic rhinitis, matched for sex and age. Serum IL-18 and CD30 levels were assayed by an immunoenzymatic method. IL-18 serum levels in the patients were lower than in the HDs before SIT (200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL versus 296.50 +/- 66.29 pg/mL; p < 0.05). After SIT, patients showed an increase of serum IL-18 levels (288.69 +/- 146.69 pg/mL versus 200.69 +/- 93.48 pg/mL; p < 0.05). On the contrary, serum CD30 levels were higher in patients before SIT with respect to HDs (14.78 +/- 8.30 IU/mL versus < 1 IU/mL; p < 0.05). SIT caused a decrease of serum CD30 levels in patients who were allergic...
Allergic rhinitis (AR) may significantly impair quality of life (QoL), and therefore it is import... more Allergic rhinitis (AR) may significantly impair quality of life (QoL), and therefore it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the available treatments on such a parameter. We studied QoL by a real-life model in a large group of patients with rhinitis caused by the most common aeroallergens and assessed the effects of high-dose sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). An overall number of 452 subjects (229 males, 223 females, mean age 25 AE 13 years) was included in the study. Of them, 208 were allergic to house dust mites, 196 to grass pollen, 104 to Parietaria pollen, 48 to olive pollen, 28 to ragweed pollen, and two to cypress pollen. QoL was measured before and after SLIT with the specific questionnaire Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of Life-Questionnaire (RQLQ) introduced and validated by Juniper. At the same time, patients evaluated their clinical status by visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). SLIT was performed by extracts from Stallergénes standardized in index of reactivity (IR) by a build-up phase in 11 days and a maintenance phase with 300 IR three times a week for the duration of the study. All side-effects were registered. The mean RQLQ was 2.93 AE 1.04 before SLIT and 1.50 AE 0.98 after SLIT (P o 0.001), with comparable improvement in the different allergen treatments. The respective mean VAS score was 4.47 AE 2.11 and 6.92 AE 1.64 (P o 0.001). SLIT was completely tolerated in 395 patients (87.4%), while in 57 (12.6%) it gave rise to slight reactions, mostly at the local level in the mouth or in the gastrointestinal tract. High dose SLIT, administered in a clinical model comparable with routine application, provides significant improvement of both clinical status and QoL in patients with AR caused by common aeroallergens.
Allergy and asthma proceedings : the official journal of regional and state allergy societies
Allergen cross-reactions among three strongly sensitizing Euphorbiaceae species, i.e., the rubber... more Allergen cross-reactions among three strongly sensitizing Euphorbiaceae species, i.e., the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), castor bean (Ricinus communis), and the Mediterranean weed Mercurialis annua were studied in Finnish patients (n = 25) allergic to natural rubber latex (NRL), but with no known exposure to castor bean or M. annua, and French patients allergic to castor bean (n = 26) or to M. annua (n = 9), but not to NRL. In immunoglobulin E (IgE)-immunoblotting, 28% of NRL-allergic patient sera recognized castor bean seed and 48% reacted to castor bean pollen proteins. Likewise, 35% of the NRL-allergic patient sera bound to M. annua pollen allergens. Nineteen percent of castor bean-allergic patients showed IgE to NRL and 8% to M. annua proteins. Sera from patients allergic to M. annua reacted in 44% to NRL, in 56% to castor bean seed, and in 78% to castor bean pollen proteins. In immunoblotting, castor bean seed extract inhibited the binding of NRL-reactive IgE to 20 kDa, 30 ...
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2002
Background: Airborne insect antigens represent important aeroallergens which have been widely inv... more Background: Airborne insect antigens represent important aeroallergens which have been widely investigated. Although it has been demonstrated that house dust contains significant silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) levels, none of the extracts obtained so far has been extensively characterized. Thus, we have prepared and characterized a silverfish extract and investigated its IgE-reactive components by testing the reactivity of sera from patients allergic to inhalant insect allergens. Methods: The extract from silverfish insect bodies was prepared by homogenizing frozen silverfish in Tris-HCl buffer. The soluble material (Sup) was filtered and the insoluble material (Ppt) was resuspended in 100 mM Tris pH 10.6. The two fractions were characterized by biochemical and immunochemical methods. IgE reactivity was investigated on both fractions before and after periodate treatment. Results: Protein content and total carbohydrates was 2 and 3% w/w for Sup and 1 and 0.3% w/w for Ppt. The SDS-PA...
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 2005
Background:Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica belong to the family Urticaceae, but ar... more Background:Holoptelea integrifolia and Parietaria judaica belong to the family Urticaceae, but are geographically distantly located. H. integrifolia is an important pollen allergen of India and sensitizes almost 10% of the atopic population in Delhi. P. judaica, on the other hand, is a very dominant pollen allergen of the Mediterranean region, sensitizing almost 80% of the allergic population. Since both these important pollen allergens belong to the family Urticaceae, the objective of the present study was to assess cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens from different geographical regions. Methods: Cross-reactivity between these two pollen allergens was assessed on the basis of skin prick tests and ELISA, ELISA inhibition and immunoblot inhibition studies. Results: Out of 44 atopic Indian patients skin prick tested with H. integrifolia extract, 34% were found to be sensitized. All the patients sensitized to H. integrifolia also showed varying degrees of skin positivit...
Alternaria alternata (AA) sensitisation is a common cause of respiratory allergies such as rhinit... more Alternaria alternata (AA) sensitisation is a common cause of respiratory allergies such as rhinitis and asthma. So far there are no controlled double-blind trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in AA allergies. To evaluate the efficacy of SLIT treatment in terms of clinical improvement and rescue medication usage in patients with confirmed AA respiratory allergy. A randomised, parallel group study in 52 subjects was conducted (32 men, mean age 20 ± 9 years) with clinically- and laboratory-confirmed AA respiratory allergies (allergic rhinitis with or without mild-to-moderate asthma). Patients were randomly assigned to SLIT treatment (SLITone Alternaria, ALK-Abellò, Denmark) one vial per day without up-dosing for 3 consecutive years (n = 34) or to a control group (n = 18) with a random allocation ratio of 2:1. Clinical improvement was assessed by evaluating patient-reported outcome (PRO) using a 6 cm visual analogue scale (0: extreme worsening; 3: no change; 6: extreme improvement). The VAS score was evaluated every year with an intra- and inter-group comparison. Rescue medication score (MS) was assessed by evaluating symptomatic drug consumption. After 3 years the VAS score was 4.7 ± 0.8 in the SLIT group and 2 ± 1.6 in the control group (p = 0.0002). Clinical improvement was observed in 33 out of 34 subjects in the SLIT group (97%) and in 5 out of 18 in the control group (27%) (p = 0.0001; Fisher&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s exact test). The MS significantly (p = 0.0001) decreased in the SLIT group from 4.3 to 1.7 at the end of 3 years&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; treatment. In the control group MS increased from 3.4 to 4.0 by the end of the trial. No serious adverse events were observed in the either group. Six patients in the SLIT group (17%) reported side-effects, in general mild and transient. One patient prematurely discontinued the treatment due to gastrointestinal discomfort. The current study has shown that a 3-year course of SLIT is efficacious and well-tolerated in subjects with AA respiratory allergies.
Background: A rapid method for the purification of the major 43-kDa allergen of Cupressus arizoni... more Background: A rapid method for the purification of the major 43-kDa allergen of Cupressus arizonica pollen, Cup a 1, was developed. Methods: The salient feature was a wash of the pollen in acidic buffer, followed by an extraction of the proteins and their purification by chromatography. Immunoblotting, ELISA, and lectin binding were tested on both the crude extract and the purified Cup a 1. Biochemical analyses were performed to assess the Cup a 1 isoelectric point, its partial amino-acid sequence, and its glycan composition. Results: Immunochemical analysis of Cup a 1 confirmed that the allergenic reactivity is maintained after the purification process. Partial amino-acid sequencing indicated a high degree of homology between Cup a 1 and allergenic proteins from the Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae families displaying a similar molecular mass. The purified protein shows one band with an isoelectric point of 5.2. Nineteen out of 33 sera (57%) from patients allergic to cypress demonstrated significant reactivity to purified Cup a 1. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated the presence of three N-linked oligosaccharide structures: GnGnXF 3 (i.e., a horseradish peroxidase-type oligosaccharide substituted with two nonreducing N-acetylglucosamine residues), GGnXF 3 /GnGXF 3 (i.e., GnGnXF with one nonreducing galactose residue), and (GF)GnXF 3 /Gn(GF)XF 3 (with a Lewis a epitope on one arm) in the molar ratio 67:8:23. Conclusions: The rapid purification process of Cup a 1 allowed some fine studies on its properties and structure, as well as the evaluation of its IgE reactivity in native conditions. The similarities of amino-acid sequences and some complex glycan stuctures could explain the high degree of cross-reactivity among the Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae families.
Arthropods and invertebrates allergy (with the exclusion of mites): the concept of panallergy It ... more Arthropods and invertebrates allergy (with the exclusion of mites): the concept of panallergy It is becoming increasingly evident that exposure to arthropods in our immediate environment (at home, outdoors, at work) results in sensitization to arthropods, which can lead to inhalant allergies, namely asthma, allergic rhinitis (cf the works by
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Papers by Renato Ariano