[Indoor allergen sensitization profile in allergic patients of the allergy clinic in the University Hospital in Uberlândia, Brazil]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate allergens among patients with allergic respiratory disease attended at the Allergy Clinic of the University Hospital-Federal University of Uberlândia.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using medical records. Patients were included if their ISAAC questionnaires were correctly filled out and their skin prick tests were positive to at least one of the allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Blomia tropicalis (Blo t), Canis familiaris (Can f), Felis domesticus (Fel d), Blattella germanica (Bla g) and Alternaria alternata.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and twelve medical records fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Allergic rhinitis was the main clinical diagnosis (32%), followed by concomitant manifestation of asthma and rhinitis (29.7%), and asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis (9.4%). Asthma alone was found only in 1.9% of patients. The total sensitization observed was 73.5%, of which 61.7%, 59.9%, 54.7%, 45.7%, 38.2%, 33.3%, 9.9% were sensitized to Der p, Der f, Blo t, Bla g, Can f, Fel d and Alternaria, respectively. No significant difference was found between allergic disease types and source of allergen sensitization.

CONCLUSION

The highest sensitization in allergic patients under study was to dust mites, especially Der p and Der f. It is noteworthy that the number of patients sensitized to cockroach extract was uncommonly high when compared to previous studies.

Lung eosinophils homing in homeostasis (98.2)

Severe lung eosinophilia is a significant feature of the inflammatory response in asthma. Besides producing various secretory products that mediate tissue injury and leukocyte activation, eosinophils from inflamed tissues have been shown to present antigens to T cells. However, the phenotype and function of eosinophils in normal tissues is poorly characterized and their antigen presentation capacity controversial. With magnetic microbead selection against the major eosinophil markers, eosinophils from normal lung tissues have been enriched to 50% of the selected cells. Surface marker staining showed that eosinophils in homeostasis expressed low to undetectable levels of MHC class II and CD11c, two markers expressed by antigen presenting cells. However, they expressed the costimulation molecules CD80 and CD86. Unactivated eosinophils expressed integrins α4, α5, and α6 chains of the β1 family, high levels of the αL (CD11a) and αM (CD11b) chains of the β2 family, and αvβ3 and α4β7. They also expressed high levels of other adhesion molecules including SiglacF, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, PSGL-1, CD24, and CD44. Besides CCR3, eosinophils expressed CCR2 and CCR2-deficient mice showed marked reduction in lung eosinophils. These data indicate that in homeostasis, eosinophil antigen presentation requires the upregulation of MHC class II, whereas costimulation molecules are already on the surface. During antigen-mediated allergic airway inflammation, MHC class II expression on eosinophils is induced, rendering the eosinophils presentation-competent. Besides CCR3, eosinophil homing to lungs is mediated by CCR2 and a wide array of adhesion molecules.

Levels of GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-6 in fluid and tissue from human radicular cysts

Cytokines released by immune system cells play an important role in cyst enlargement. This study aimed to determine, by ELISA, the levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), and IL-6 in fluid and tissue from human radicular cysts. GM-CSF was found in 42.8% of the fluid samples (164.3 pg/mL) and IL-6 in 92.8% (641.4 pg/mL). No IL-3 was detected in any fluid samples. In the tissue samples, 28.6% were positive for IL-3 (369.2 pg/mL), 86.4% for IL-6 (92.4 pg/mL), and 95.8% for GM-CSF (200.5 pg/mL). It can be concluded that GM-CSF and IL-6 were widely found in the fluid and tissue samples. In contrast, IL-3 was found only in the cystic tissue, even though in few lesions. These cytokines may contribute to the inflammation, cystic growth, and bone resorption that characterize cystic lesions.