Activated leucocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) regulates T cell responses in a murine model of food allergy

Food allergy is a major public health problem. Studies have shown that long-term interactions between activated leucocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, and CD6, a co-stimulatory molecule, influence immune responses. However, there are currently no studies on the functions of ALCAM in food allergy. Therefore, we aimed to identify the functions of ALCAM in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy using ALCAM-deficient mice. Wild-type (WT) and ALCAM-deficient (ALCAM^-/- ) mice were sensitized intraperitoneally and with orally fed OVA. The mice were killed, and parameters related to food allergy and T helper type 2 (Th2) immune responses were analysed. ALCAM serum levels increased and mRNA expression decreased in OVA-challenged WT mice. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels, Th2 cytokine mRNA and histological injuries were higher in OVA-challenged WT mice than in control mice, and these were attenuated in ALCAM^-/- mice. T cell proliferation of total cells, CD3⁺ CD4⁺ T cells and activated T cells in immune tissues were diminished in OVA-challenged ALCAM^-/- mice. Proliferation of co-cultured T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) was decreased by the anti-CD6 antibody. In addition, WT mice sensitized by adoptive transfer of OVA-pulsed ALCAM^-/- BM-derived DCs showed reduced immune responses. Lastly, serum ALCAM levels were higher in children with food allergy than in control subjects. In this study, serum levels of ALCAM were elevated in food allergy-induced WT mice and children with food allergy. Moreover, immune responses and T cell activation were attenuated in OVA-challenged ALCAM^-/- mice. These results indicate that ALCAM regulates food allergy by affecting T cell activation.

Relationship between sputum clusterin levels and childhood asthma

BACKGROUND

Clusterin is a sensitive cellular biosensor of oxidative stress and has been studied as a biomarker for inflammation-associated diseases. Clusterin levels in childhood asthma have not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To evaluate sputum clusterin levels in children with asthma compared to a control group. (2) To assess the relationships between sputum clusterin levels and airway inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

METHODS

This study included 170 children aged 5-18 years with stable asthma (n = 91), asthma exacerbation (n = 29), or no asthma (healthy controls; n = 50). Induced sputum, pulmonary function, and methacholine challenge tests were performed. Stable asthma was classified into two groups according to the severity. Clusterin levels in sputum were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Children with stable asthma had a higher clusterin level than healthy controls [4540 (3872-5651) pg/mL vs. 3857 (1054-4369) pg/mL, P < 0.001]. The clusterin level was also more elevated in eosinophil-dominant sputum than in non-eosinophilic sputum in stable asthma [5094 (4243-6257) pg/mL vs. 4110 (1871-4839) pg/mL, P = 0.0017]. Clusterin levels were associated with asthma severity. Paradoxically, clusterin levels were lower during asthma exacerbation than in stable asthma [1838 (350-4790] pg/mL vs. 4540 (3872-5651) pg/mL, P < 0.001]. Clusterin levels were strongly correlated with the methacholine concentration that caused a 20% decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = -0.617, P < 0.001); there was no significant correlation between clusterin levels and other pulmonary function parameters.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Clusterin levels were altered in children with stable asthma and asthma exacerbation because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Clusterin may be a marker that reflects airway inflammation and severity of symptoms, and it can be used in the assessment and management of childhood asthma.

IgE cross-reactivity of peanut with walnut and soybean in children with food allergy

BACKGROUND

Peanut allergies are common and can be life-threating for sensitised individuals. Peanut allergens share significant amino acid homology with those of other legumes and tree nuts, but their cross-reactivity still remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the clinical significance of the cross-reactivity of peanut allergens with those of walnut and soybean.

METHODS

Pooled sera from eight subjects with both peanut and walnut specific IgE were investigated in an inhibition test. After the sera were incubated with either peanut or walnut protein extracts, the quantity of IgE antibodies against the peanut and walnut was measured using an immunoCAP test. Likewise, pooled sera from 18 subjects with both peanut and soybean specific IgE antibodies were incubated with either peanut or soybean protein extracts and evaluated with a peanut and soybean immunoCAP test. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting were also performed with peanut, walnut and soybean protein extracts and relevant sera.

RESULTS

Peanut specific IgE was inhibited up to 20% and 26% by walnut and soybean protein extracts, respectively. In reverse, walnut and soybean specific IgE were inhibited up to 21% and 23% by peanut protein extracts, respectively. In the immunoblot analysis, pooled serum from the subjects with peanut specific IgE antibodies reacted with walnut protein extracts significantly.

CONCLUSION

Although the clinical significance of the cross-reactivity of peanut specific IgE with walnut and soybean protein extracts has not been established, we believe that individuals who are allergic to peanuts need to be cautious about consuming walnuts and soybeans.

Efficacy and safety of topical glycopyrrolate in patients with facial hyperhidrosis: a randomized, multicentre, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face study

BACKGROUND

Although facial hyperhidrosis has been frequently associated with a diminished quality of life, various conservative modalities for its management are still far from satisfactory.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antiperspirant efficacy and safety of the topical glycopyrrolate on facial hyperhidrosis at specified posttreatment intervals.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with facial hyperhidrosis were enrolled and treated with 2% topical glycopyrrolate on one-half of the forehead, whereas the other half of the forehead was treated with a placebo. All patients applied topical glycopyrrolate or placebo once a day for nine successive days. Each evaluation included weighing sweat and assessing the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) score and any adverse effects.

RESULTS

Compared with the placebo-treated sides, topical glycopyrrolate-treated sides showed a reduction in the rate of sweat production at the forehead of 25.16 ± 10.30% (mean ± SD) at 90 min after the first application (day 1), 29.63 ± 7.74% at 24 h after the first application (day 2) and 36.68 ± 11.41% at 24 h after eight additional successive daily applications (day 10) (all P < 0.025). There was a little more decrease in HDSS score with the topical glycopyrrolate-treated half of the forehead, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.025). No serious adverse events were reported during the course of this study. Only one patient developed a transient headache after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Topical glycopyrrolate application appears to be significantly effective and safe in reducing excessive facial perspiration.

Anti-immunoglobulin E in the treatment of refractory atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease affecting > 10% of children and 1-3% of adults, and can cause significant morbidity. The incidence of AD seems to be increasing. Omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody, has recently been suggested as a potential new systemic treatment for patients with recalcitrant AD with elevated IgE levels, based on its efficacy in treating asthma and allergic rhinitis. We report a study of 10 patients with AD (aged 19-35 years) who received anti-IgE treatment for persistent asthma. All patients, regardless of IgE value, were treated with a fixed schedule of eight cycles of omalizumab 300 mg administered subcutaneously at intervals of 2 weeks. Eczema symptoms were scored at baseline and after 2, 4 and 6 months of treatment. There was a steady improvement in the objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis), with significantly lower scores observed at the 6-month evaluation. At 2 months after the end of treatment, two patients had a very good result (SCORAD reduction of > 50%), five patients had a satisfactory result (reduction of 25-50%), and three patients had no clinically relevant result (reduction of 25-50%). No patient had worsening of the AD (increase of > 25% in SCORAD), and once a clinical improvement occurred, none of the patients experienced worsening of their eczema symptoms while on omalizumab. With the caveats of the financial expense and unknown long-term risks of malignancy associated with omalizumab, this drug should be considered for treatment-resistant patients with AD, particularly patients with high IgE level whose symptoms are not controlled by routine therapies. Omalizumab has proven useful in treating asthma, but it may also prove valuable for other conditions, such as allergic rhinitis, food allergies, chronic urticaria, and AD, as shown by the present study.

A pilot study of silver-loaded cellulose fabric with incorporated seaweed for the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Because clothing has the longest and most direct contact with human skin, it is important to carefully choose suitable fabrics for atopic patients who have disrupted skin. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and biophysical properties of a newly developed silver-loaded cellulose fabric with incorporated seaweed, we enrolled 12 subjects with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis into a clinical control study. The subjects wore a two-piece garment (top and leggings), each piece of which was divided into two parts: one side was made of SkinDoctor(®) fabric, and the other of 100% cotton. Treatment efficacy was measured with the modified SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (mSCORAD) index, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and the patients' subjective impressions. All three of these measures had significantly better scores on the side covered with SkinDoctor. These results suggest that SkinDoctor is a beneficial fabric that can improve the comfort of patients with AD.

Photodynamic therapy: new treatment for refractory lymphocytic infiltration of the skin

Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS) is a relatively uncommon skin condition, first described by Jessner and Kanof in 1953. LIS presents mainly on the face, in particular on the cheeks and earlobe, but also on the neck, upper trunk or proximal limbs of middle-aged adults. LIS is often resistant to treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) refers to the process of applying a topical prodrug, such as 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) or methyl 5-aminolaevulinic acid (MAL), followed by irradiation with visible or ultraviolet light. The prodrug is converted by target tissue to photoactive porphyrins, which lead to local tissue destruction when activated by light. We describe a 48-year-old woman with refractory LIS, who was treated with MAL-PDT.

Antibiogram and coagulase diversity in staphylococcal enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis

We investigated antibiogram and coagulase gene diversity in staphylococcal enterotoxin (StE)-producing Staphylococcus aureus isolated from raw milk samples of cows infected with mastitis from 140 dairy farms in Korea between 1997 and 2004. Of the 696 Staph. aureus isolates collected in this study, 164 isolates (23.6%) produced one or more staphylococcal enterotoxins (A to D), and 19 isolates (2.7%) were methicillin-resistant. The percentage of StE-producing Staph. aureus (SES) isolates resistant to methicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, amikacin, and tetracycline was greater than that of non-SES. Ten coagulase genotype patterns were observed, including 4 main types comprising I (25.4%), II (13.9%), VII (13.2%), and VIII (17.8%). More than 4 Staph. aureus types were isolated from each of 82 dairy farms in different geographic locations, and only 1 coagulase genotype pattern was observed in 39 of the herds (47.6%). There was no significant correlation between coagulase genotypes harbored by Staph. aureus and their specific StE type. The percentage of isolates producing major StE types (A, B, AC, and ABCD) and being resistant to cephalothin and methicillin was greater among the Staph. aureus isolates with the 4 predominant coagulase genotypes (I, II, VII, and VIII) than among the isolates harboring the 6 rare coagulase types (III, IV, V, VI, IX, and X). Based on coagulase gene polymorphisms, our data indicate that a broad distribution of identical or closely related enterotoxin-producing Staph. aureus strains seem to contribute to bovine mastitis in the Republic of Korea.

Potential application of manganese coated sand in the removal of Mn(II) from aqueous solutions

The aim of this study was to explore the applicability of manganese coated sand (MCS) in the presence and absence of sodium hypochlorite for the removal of Mn(II) (2 mg/L) from aqueous solutions. Sand itself is widely used as a filter media for the treatment of wastewaters and it was reported that during the treatment, Mn(II), which is present in the wastewater, is to be deposited on the surface of sand in the form of manganese dioxide. The present investigation dealt with various MCS samples, prepared in the laboratory by various doses of Mn(II) (i.e. from 0.05 to 0.2 mol/L) and the samples were obtained from the pilot plant and naturally coated in the water treatment plant for the removal of Mn(II) in the batch and column studies. Moreover, it was realised that the role of hypochlorite is multifunctional as it not only enhances the uptake of Mn(II) on the surface of MCS through oxidation of Mn(II) into Mn(IV) and hence the formation of manganese dioxide, but it was also supposed to disinfect the bacteria or harmful pathogens from the waste/surface waters. The results obtained clearly inferred that various MCS samples used for the removal of Mn(II) from aqueous solutions showed comparable removal efficiency. However, the presence of sodium hypochlorite greatly enhanced the removal of Mn(II) as more than 80% Mn(II) was removed in the presence of sodium hypochlorite at around pH 6.5. Similarly, while comparing the column data it was again noted that the breakthrough points occurred after the 4,100 and 6,500 bed volumes, respectively, in the absence and in the presence of sodium hypochlorite (2 mg/L).

Risk factors for penicillin resistance and mortality in Korean adults with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia

A retrospective analysis was performed to measure the incidence of pneumococcal bacteremia and to identify risk factors for penicillin resistance and prognostic factors for outcome in adults. A total of 151 cases of pneumococcal bacteremia were identified from 149 adults during the period 1996-2000. The overall rate of penicillin resistance was 49%, ranging from 54.2% in 1996 to 48.5% in 2000 (P=0.93). Rates of resistance to ceftriaxone, clindamycin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 21.6%, 51%, 62%, and 44.7%, respectively. Multidrug resistance was documented in 47.7% of the cases. Penicillin resistance was significantly associated with solid tumor, biliary drainage catheter, and previous beta-lactam therapy in the univariate analysis. However, the associations were not as significant as independent risk factors in the multivariate analysis. Mortality was 23.8% and did not change significantly during the study period (P=0.06). Mortality rates in cases caused by penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were 23% and 24.7%, respectively (P=0.81). Mortality was not significantly influenced by penicillin resistance, even high-level resistance (24.4% vs. 20%; P=0.64). Multivariate analysis revealed that antineoplastic chemotherapy, respiratory failure, and acute renal failure were independent prognostic factors for mortality. In conclusion, the rate of penicillin resistance among pneumococcal blood isolates was high in the late 1990s, but penicillin resistance, and even high-level penicillin resistance, was not significantly associated with increased mortality in adults with pneumococcal bacteremia.

Group B streptococcal bacteremia in nonpregnant adults with hepatic disease in Korea

Sixty-seven cases of group B streptococcal bacteremia in adults were retrospectively reviewed during the period 1991-2000. Not one case occurred in pregnant women. The mean age of the patients was 57 years, and 67.2% were men. Of the 67 cases of illness, 25.4% were hospital acquired and 11.9% were polymicrobial. Common predisposing diseases included hepatic disease (55.2%), diabetes mellitus (28.4%), malignancy (20.9%), and cardiovascular diseases (17.9%). Primary bacteremia, peritonitis, bone and joint infections, and skin and soft tissue infections accounted for most presentations. Peritonitis was a more common presentation in patients with hepatic disease (P<0.001), whereas skin and soft tissue infection was more common in patients with non-hepatic disease (P=0.008). More patients with hepatic disease had polymicrobial bacteremia than did patients with nonhepatic disease (P=0.018). Death occurred in 9.8% of cases, and mortality did not differ between patients with hepatic disease and those with nonhepatic disease. Hepatic disease was found to be an important predisposing condition in adults with group B streptococcal bacteremia. However, mortality for patients with hepatic disease was similar to that for patients with nonhepatic disease.

Toxicity and biodegradation of products from polyester hydrolysis

Toxicity of products from polyester hydrolysis such as succinic acid (SA), adipic acid (AA), mandelic acid (MA), terephthalic acid (TA), 1,4-butanediol (1,4-B), ethylene glycol (EG), styrene glycol (SG) and 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol (1,4-C) was evaluated by phytotoxicity test on germination of young radish seeds and by cytotoxicity test on HeLa cells. The phytotoxicity test revealed SG > MA > 1,4-C > AA approximately SA > TA approximately EG > 1,4-B in order of decreasing toxicity taking into consideration the growth behavior after germination as well as the percentage of germination. Toxicity on HeLa cells decreased in slightly different order compared to that on young radish seeds, i.e. SG > 1,4-C > MA > TA > SA > AA > EG > 1,4-B. Tests for the phytotoxicity and for cytotoxicity indicated that the aromatic compounds were more harmful than the aliphatic ones. Each group of 4 strains which grew most rapidly on each agar plate containing SA, AA, MA, TA, 1,4-B, EG, SG and 1,4-C respectively as a sole carbon source was identified by the fatty acid methyl esters analysis. The modified Sturm test was carried out using the single isolated strain, an activated sludge or a mixed soil to measure the rate of mineralization of the compounds into carbon dioxide. The aliphatic compounds were mineralized more easily than the aromatic compounds. 1,4-C showed the most exceptionally slow degradation. A scrutiny of residual 1,4-C after degradation is required before polyesters containing 1,4-C could be classified into compostable because 1,4-C has detrimental effects on young radish seeds and HeLa cells and has a tendency to accumulate in the environment due to its slow degradability.

Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in Korea

Recent reports on some methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin have been a major concern in Korea because of the widespread use of vancomycin due to a high prevalence of MRSA in the country. We describe a 45-year-old man with long-standing pelvic abscess due to MRSA. In spite of vancomycin and teicoplanin treatment for a long period of time, the patient died from MRSA sepsis. The blood culture isolate of MRSA exhibited reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (MIC, 8 microg/ml). This is the first report of a vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus case from Korea.

In vitro activities of quinupristin/dalfopristin and eight other antimicrobial agents against 360 clinical isolates from Korea

The emergence of multi-drug resistant gram-positive cocci such as methicillin-resistant (MR) staphylococci, vancomycin-resistant (VR) enterococci, and vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. aureus (VISA) has given new urgency to the development of new antimicrobial agents. One of these is quinupristin/dalfopristin (Q/D). We decided to determine the susceptibility of gram-positive cocci isolated at two university hospitals in Seoul to Q/D and compare the results with eight other antimicrobial agents. We investigated 120 isolates of S. aureus including 49 MRSAs and one VISA, 120 isolates of coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), 64 E. faecalis and 56 E. faecium, including seven strains of VR E. faecium. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) for several antimicrobials, including vancomycin and Q/D, were determined by broth microdilution. All S. aureus including VISA were susceptible to Q/D. Q/D MIC90 for both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA was 0.25 g/mL. 49 (87.5%) of 56 E. faecium including six of seven VR E. faecium were susceptible to Q/D. E. faecalis were not susceptible to Q/D (only 1.5% susceptible), but were inhibited by ampicillin (94% susceptible) or vancomycin (95%). CNS was susceptible to Q/D (96% susceptible) and vancomycin (100% susceptible). One of 38 staphylococci and two of 17 E. faecium were tolerant to Q/D. In conclusion, Q/D showed excellent activity against all species of gram-positive cocci including MRSA, VISA, and VR E. faecium except E. faecalis, and may provide a valuable option for the treatment of infections caused by these emerging nosocomial pathogens of gram-positive cocci.

Time-kill studies of antimicrobial combinations including cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, vancomycin and meropenem against cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

BACKGROUND

Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin is now widespread and rapidly increasing all over the world. This has led to the critical need for alternative antimicrobial therapy.

METHODS

To assess the activities of antimicrobial combinations, including cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, vancomycin and meropenem, time-kill studies were conducted against five strains of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant S. pneumoniae at clinically achievable antimicrobial concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid.

RESULTS

Combinations of an extended-spectrum cephalosporin with vancomycin were not synergistic. Meropenem had a comparable bactericidal activity to those combinations, and its killing activity was not affected by the addition of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone or vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that meropenem could be an effective alternative for the treatment of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis. However, more clinical data are required before it can be recommended as an effective antimicrobial agent for such cases.

Biochemical oxygen demand sensor using Serratia marcescens LSY 4

A microbial biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor consisting of Serratia marcescens LSY 4 and an oxygen electrode was prepared for estimation of the biochemical oxygen demand. The response of the BOD sensor was insensitive to pH in the range of pH 6.0-8.0, and the baseline drift of the signal was nearly absent even in unbuffered aqueous solution. Because heavy metal ions were precipitated from the phosphate buffer solution, unbuffered solution was used to investigate the effect of the concentration of heavy metal ions on the sensor response. Contrary to previous studies, not only Cu2+ and Ag+ but also Cd2+ and Zn2+ significantly decreased the response of the BOD sensor in unbuffered solution. Graft polymerization of sodium styrene sulfonate on the surface of the porous teflon membrane was carried out to absorb the heavy metal ions permeating through the membrane. Tolerance against Zn2+ was induced for S. marcescens LSY 4 to make the cells less sensitive to the presence of heavy metal ions. The membrane modification and the Zn2+ tolerance induction showed some positive effects in such a way that they reduced the inhibitory effects of Zn2+ and Cd2+ on the sensitivity of the BOD sensor. However, they had no effect on the protection of the cells against the interference of Cu2+ and Ag+ on the performance of the sensor.

Antimicrobial resistance in enterococci

Enterococci have emerged as a major nosocomial pathogen and as an ever-increasing problem in antimicrobial resistance. They are ubiquitous in the intestinal flora of humans and animals and inherently resistant to a wide array of antimicrobial agents, and, more alarmingly, they seem to have a potential facility for acquiring new resistance determinants, including beta-lactamase production, high-level resistance to aminoglycosides, and recently, glycopeptide resistance. Collectively, all of these properties make enterococci one of most difficult nosocomial pathogens to treat and control today. The purpose of this review was to examine the epidemiology, the mechanisms, and laboratory detection of resistance of enterococci to the two major groups of antibiotics: aminoglycosides and glycopeptides.

Gene cloning of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) antigen reactive with the serum from a HCMV-infected patient

The human cytomegalovirus(HCMV) gene encoding the protein reactive with the sera of HCMV-infected patient was cloned and characterized. A reactive phage clone was screened from a lambda gt11 expression library of cDNA of HCMV AD169 strain using HCMV-infected patient sera. The recombinant protein was expressed as 138 kDa-fusion protein with beta-galactosidase, which was reactive with IgM or IgG HCMV antibody-positive sera, but not with anti-HCMV antibody-negative sera. A homology search of the DNA sequence of the cloned gene with HCMV AD169 sequences revealed that it was composed of 709 base pairs spanning between 0.174 and 0.177 map units of the UL32 region of the HCMV AD169 strain genome. This position corresponded to a part of the gene encoding 150 kDa phosphoprotein-(pp150), a major tegument protein, which was reported as an immunogenic protein which evoked strong and longstanding antibody response and had no sequence homology with the proteins of other herpesviruses. These results suggested that pp150 was an immunogenic protein in natural HCMV infection and therefore this clone was regarded as a useful candidate for developing an antigen for the serodiagnosis of HCMV.

Steroid modifications with immobilized biocatalysts--use of immobilized enzyme-requiring cofactor regeneration and of immobilized mycelium

Two biological approaches have been investigated for specific modifications of steroids. The first one uses the purified enzyme for the specific dehydrogenation of androsterone to androstanedione. The enzyme used is 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase which requires a cofactor (NAD). A cofactor regeneration is needed so that the process could work continuously. The conjugation of two points (immobilization of the enzyme and optimization of the ratio methanol-water) allows a continuous work of the enzyme during 25 days. Moreover, we propose a chemical regeneration of the cofactor using methoxy derivative of phenazine methosulphate. Right now it is the limiting step of the process. The second approach of steroid modification uses a whole mycelium of Aspergillus phoenicis for the specific hydroxylation of progesterone to 11 alpha-hydroxy progesterone. The transformation of 90% of the progesterone is obtained with calcium alginate immobilization and the lowest number of products is obtained at pH lower than 2.5 with carrageenan and polyurethane immobilization. It seems promising to apply immobilized biocatalysts to the bioconversion of hydrophobic compounds in organic solvents system.