Complement fragment C4d and Bb levels in inflammatory skin diseases (e.g. SLE, atopic dermatitis, erythroderma and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris) for assessment of complement activation

Anticomplementary activity of ergosterol peroxide fromNaematoloma fasciculare and reassignment of NMR data

A very high content (at least 0.23%) of ergosterol peroxide was isolated fromNaematoloma fasciculare Karst. Not only ergosterol peroxide but also ergosterol showed very strong anticomplementary activity on the classical pathway, the IC(50) values being 5.0 muM and 1.0 muM, respectively. The(1)H and(13)C NMR data of ergosterol peroxide were revised and completely assigned by DEPT,(1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC and HMBC correlations.

Reactivity of anti-Blomia tropicalis IgG and IgE in patients with atopic dermatitis

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) commonly develop antibodies of subclasses IgG and IgE to house dust mites, such as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae. The domestic mite Blomia tropicalis is prevalent in Brazil and can cause the exacerbation of AD. The objectives of this study were to assess skin reactivity to B. tropicalis extracts of AD patients and a control group of nonallergic subjects, and to determine the in vitro reactivity of anti-B. tropicalis IgG and IgE in the serum of AD patients and a control group of nonallergic individuals. Subjects were 36 patients with confirmed AD and the controls were 25 nonallergic individuals. Skin sensitivity to B. tropicalis extracts was tested by the prick-test, and anti-B. tropicalis IgG reactivity in the serum was detected by the Western blot. Anti-B. tropicalis IgE reactivity in the serum was measured by RAST. Patients with AD reacted 7.12 times more often to extracts from B. tropicalis than the control group. A positive association was observed between the presence of anti-B. tropicalis IgG and IgE and AD. AD patients showed a high degree of sensitization to B. tropicalis; it can thus be considered a risk factor for the development of AD exacerbations in patients exposed to this mite species.

Anticomplementary activity of stilbenes from medicinal plants

The anticomplementary activity of stilbenes from medicinal plants in Korea was investigated in vitro. 3,5-Dihydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene (3) was most potent with IC50 value of 1.5 x 10(-4) M followed by rhapontigenin (4), oxyresverastrol (2), 2,3,4',5-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-glucoside (9), rhaponticin (8), resverastrol (1), and piceid (7). The activity was found to be increased by a methylation on a hydroxy group of C-4' of 1, but decreased by further methylation on hydroxy groups of C-3 and C-5 and glucosylation on any hydroxy group of 1. Addition of hydroxy group on C-2' of 1 or C-3' of 3 was little affected on the anticomplementary activity but the activity was increased by O-glucosylation on C-2 of 1.

Anticomplementary activity of ginseng saponins and their degradation products

The anticomplementary activity of ginseng saponins and their degradation products obtained by chemical treatment of Korean red ginseng saponins was investigated. The total saponin and its major components showed strong anticomplementary activity and their structure-activity relationship was evaluated.