Molecular allergen profiling in horses by microarray reveals Fag e 2 from buckwheat as a frequent sensitizer

Background

Companion animals are also affected by IgE‐mediated allergies, but the eliciting molecules are largely unknown. We aimed at refining an allergen microarray to explore sensitization in horses and compare it to the human IgE reactivity profiles.

Methods

Custom‐designed allergen microarray was produced on the basis of the ImmunoCAP ISAC technology containing 131 allergens. Sera from 51 horses derived from Europe or Japan were tested for specific IgE reactivity. The included horse patients were diagnosed for eczema due to insect bite hypersensitivity, chronic coughing, recurrent airway obstruction and urticaria or were clinically asymptomatic.

Results

Horses showed individual IgE‐binding patterns irrespective of their health status, indicating sensitization. In contrast to European and Japanese human sensitization patterns, frequently recognized allergens were Aln g 1 from alder and Cyn d 1 from Bermuda grass, likely due to specific respiratory exposure around paddocks and near the ground. The most prevalent allergen for 72.5% of the tested horses (37/51) was the 2S‐albumin Fag e 2 from buckwheat, which recently gained importance not only in human but also in horse diet.

Conclusion

In line with the One Health concept, covering human health, animal health and environmental health, allergen microarrays provide novel information on the allergen sensitization patterns of the companion animals around us, which may form a basis for allergen‐specific preventive and therapeutic concepts.

Structural similarities of human and mammalian lipocalins, and their function in innate immunity and allergy

Owners and their domestic animals via skin shedding and secretions, mutually exchange microbiomes, potential pathogens and innate immune molecules. Among the latter especially lipocalins are multifaceted: they may have an immunomodulatory function and, furthermore, they represent one of the most important animal allergen families. The amino acid identities, as well as their structures by superposition modeling were compared among human lipocalins, hLCN1 and hLCN2, and most important animal lipocalin allergens, such as Can f 1, Can f 2 and Can f 4 from dog, Fel d 4 from cats, Bos d 5 from cow's milk, Equ c 1 from horses, and Mus m 1 from mice, all of them representing major allergens. The β-barrel fold with a central molecular pocket is similar among human and animal lipocalins. Thereby, lipocalins are able to transport a variety of biological ligands in their highly conserved calyx-like cavity, among them siderophores with the strongest known capability to complex iron (Fe(3+) ). Levels of human lipocalins are elevated in nonallergic inflammation and cancer, associated with innate immunoregulatory functions that critically depend on ligand load. Accordingly, deficient loading of lipocalin allergens establishes their capacity to induce Th2 hypersensitivity. Our similarity analysis of human and mammalian lipocalins highlights their function in innate immunity and allergy.

IgE, IgG4 and IgA specific to Bet v 1-related food allergens do not predict oral allergy syndrome

BACKGROUND

Birch pollen-associated plant food allergy is caused by Bet v 1-specific IgE, but presence of cross-reactive IgE to related allergens does not predict food allergy. The role of other immunoglobulin isotypes in the birch pollen-plant food syndrome has not been investigated in detail.

METHODS

Bet v 1-sensitized birch pollen-allergic patients (n = 35) were diagnosed for food allergy by standardized interviews, skin prick tests, prick-to-prick tests and ImmunoCAP. Concentrations of allergen-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG4 and IgA to seven Bet v 1-related food allergens were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

Bet v 1, Cor a 1, Mal d 1 and Pru p 1 bound IgE from all and IgG4 and IgA from the majority of sera. Immunoglobulins to Gly m 4, Vig r 1 and Api g 1.01 were detected in <65% of the sera. No significant correlation was observed between plant food allergy and increased or reduced levels of IgE, IgG1, IgG4 or IgA specific to most Bet v 1-related allergens. Api g 1-specific IgE was significantly (P = 0.01) elevated in celeriac-allergic compared with celeriac-tolerant patients. Likewise, frequencies of IgE (71% vs 15%; P = 0.01) and IgA (86% vs 38%; P = 0.04) binding to Api g 1.01 were increased.

CONCLUSION

Measurements of allergen-specific immunoglobulins are not suitable for diagnosing Bet v 1-mediated plant food allergy to hazelnut and Rosaceae fruits. In contrast, IgE and IgA to the distantly related allergen Api g 1 correlate with allergy to celeriac.

Does thyroid-stimulating hormone influence the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer? A multicentre trial

Background:

Thyroid function has been suggested to interfere with tumour biology and prognosis in different cancers. The present study was performed to investigate the impact of pre-therapeutic serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels on the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer.

Methods:

Pre-therapeutic serum TSH was investigated in 199 patients with endometrial cancer. After stratification in TSH risk groups, univariate and multivariable survival analyses were performed.

Results:

Elevated TSH was independently associated with poor disease-specific survival in univariate/multivariable survival analyses (P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively).

Conclusion:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone may serve as a novel and independent prognostic parameter for disease-specific survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

Ovarian cancer stem cells

Because of its semi-solid character in dissemination and growth, advanced ovarian cancer with its hundreds of peritoneal tumor nodules and plaques appears to be an excellent in vivo model for studying the cancer stem cell hypothesis. The most important obstacle, however, is to adequately define and isolate these tumor-initiating cells endowed with the properties of anoikis-resistance and unlimited self-renewal. Until now, no universal single marker or marker constellation has been found to faithfully isolate (ovarian) cancer stem cells. As these multipotent cells are known to possess highly elaborated efflux systems for cytotoxic agents, these pump systems have been exploited to outline putative stem cells as a side-population (SP) via dye exclusion analysis. Furthermore, the cells in question have been isolated via flow cytometry on the basis of cell surface markers thought to be characteristic for stem cells.In the Vienna variant of the ovarian cancer cell line A2780 a proof-of-principle model with both a stable SP and a stable ALDH1A1+ cell population was established. Double staining clearly revealed that both cell fractions were not identical. Of note, A2780V cells were negative for expression of surface markers CD44 and CD117 (c-kit). When cultured on monolayers of healthy human mesothelial cells, green-fluorescence-protein (GFP)-transfected SP of A2780V exhibited spheroid-formation, whereas non-side-population (NSP) developed a spare monolayer growing over the healthy mesothelium. Furthermore, A2780V SP was found to be partially resistant to platinum. However, this resistance could not be explained by over-expression of the "excision repair cross-complementation group 1" (ERCC1) gene, which is essentially involved in the repair of platinated DNA damage. ERCC1 was, nonetheless, over-expressed in A2780V cells grown as spheres under stem cell-selective conditions as compared to adherent monolayers cultured under differentiating conditions. The same was true for the primary ovarian cancer cells B-57.In summary our investigations indicate that even in multi-passaged cancer cell lines hierarchic government of growth and differentiation is conserved and that the key cancer stem cell population may be composed of small overlapping cell fractions defined by various arbitrary markers.

Nomogram prediction for overall survival of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer

Background:

Nomograms are predictive tools that are widely used for estimating cancer prognosis. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram for the prediction of overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Methods:

Cervical cancer databases of two large institutions were analysed. Overall survival was defined as the clinical endpoint and OS probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Based on the results of survival analyses and previous studies, relevant covariates were identified, a nomogram was constructed and validated using bootstrap cross-validation. Discrimination of the nomogram was quantified with the concordance probability.

Results:

In total, 528 consecutive patients with invasive cervical cancer, who had all nomogram variables available, were identified. Mean 5-year OS rates for patients with International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) stage IA, IB, II, III, and IV were 99.0%, 88.6%, 65.8%, 58.7%, and 41.5%, respectively. Seventy-six cancer-related deaths were observed during the follow-up period. FIGO stage, tumour size, age, histologic subtype, lymph node ratio, and parametrial involvement were selected as nomogram covariates. The prognostic performance of the model exceeded that of FIGO stage alone and the model’s estimated optimism-corrected concordance probability was 0.723, indicating accurate prediction of OS. We present the prediction model as nomogram and provide a web-based risk calculator (http://www.ccc.ac.at/gcu).

Conclusion:

Based on six easily available parameters, a novel statistical model to predict OS of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer was constructed and validated. The model was implemented in a nomogram and provides accurate prediction of individual patients’ prognosis useful for patient counselling and deciding on follow-up strategies.

Alternative splicing of p53 and p73: the novel p53 splice variant p53delta is an independent prognostic marker in ovarian cancer

Similar to p73, the tumor suppressor gene p53 is subject to alternative splicing. Besides p53DeltaE6 and p53beta, we identified p53zeta, p53delta and p53varepsilon, arising from alternative splicing of exon 6 and intron 9, respectively. p53 splice variants were present in 18 of 34 ovarian cancer cell lines (52.9%) and 134 of 245 primary ovarian cancers (54.7%). p53delta expression was associated with impaired response to primary platinum-based chemotherapy (P=0.032). Also, p53delta expression constituted an independent prognostic marker for recurrence-free and overall survival (hazard ratio 1.854, 95% confidence interval 1.121-3.065, P=0.016; and hazard ratio 1.937, 95% confidence interval 1.177-3.186, P=0.009, respectively). p53beta expression was associated with adverse clinicopathologic markers, that is, serous and poorly differentiated cancers (P=0.002 and P=0.008, respectively), and correlated with worse recurrence-free survival in patients exhibiting functionally active p53 (P=0.049). DeltaN'p73 constituted the main N-terminally truncated p73 isoform and was preferentially found in ovarian cancer cell lines showing functionally active p53, supporting our hypothesis that N-terminally truncated p73 isoforms can alleviate the selection pressure for p53 mutations by the inhibition of p53 protein function.

Cryopreservation of a whole ovary as a strategy for restoring ovarian function

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether a total ovary can successfully be cryopreserved and thawed under maintenance of high proportions of structurally normal primordial follicles.

METHODS

Porcine ovaries were explanted immediately after slaughtery. Ten ovaries were cooled to -196 degrees C using cryoprotective solution and a computer-controlled freezing technique. Five contralateral ovaries were fixed with formalin for histological examination, the five remaining ovaries were directly plunged in liquid nitrogen. After three weeks of storage, frozen ovaries were thawed and examined by light and electron microscopy. Viability was assessed by evaluation of intact primordial follicles with respect to cellular and intracellular structures.

RESULTS

Histological viability of primordial follicles in computer-frozen ovaries was 84.4% (76.1-90.6%), as compared to non-frozen control samples (92-100%; mean 97.6%) and to ovaries plunged in liquid nitrogen without cryoprotection 21.1% (4.5-35.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cryopreservation of whole ovaries may present a feasible way to maintain high numbers of viable primordial follicles in ovarian tissue retransplantation.

[Ovarian tissue banking--primary results]

Lifelong hormone replacement therapy and infertility often follow oncological therapy in young women due to a dramatic reduction of the primordial follicle reserve. Reimplantation and function of frozen ovarian tissue slices were successfully demonstrated in animal models, but the durability is limited. Cryopreservation of a whole ovary could reestablish an almost normal ovarian function. Experiments with porcine ovaries showed histological viability. Cryopreservation and retransplantation of sheep ovaries should demonstrate success by hormonal response and pregnancy.

The effect of smoking on oocyte quality and hormonal parameters of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of smoking on different parameters such as oocyte count, embryo score, and basal hormone values within the scope of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODS

Eight hundred thirty-four women undergoing IVF-ET treatment were classified as smokers or nonsmokers on the basis of questionnaires. Additionally, we divided them into three groups according to their stimulation protocol--"combined stimulation" [I; clomiphene citrate plus human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)], "ultrashort" [II; gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) plus hMG or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)], and "long downregulation protocol" (III)--and further classified again as smokers or nonsmokers within the groups.

RESULTS

In general, smoking patients were significantly (P = 0.0195) younger than nonsmokers and showed a significantly (P = 0.0379) lower embryo score and a tendency (P = 0.0931) to produce fewer oocytes. There was no significant difference concerning the number of normally or pathologically fertilized and transferred oocytes and embryos suitable for cryopreservation. Women who smoked had significantly (P = 0.0112) higher basal 17-beta-estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) (P = 0.0001), and dehydroepian-drosteronesulfate (DHEAS) (P = 0.0039) levels, but their basal human prolactin (HPRL) levels were significantly (P = 0.0033) lower than those of nonsmokers. According to the stimulation protocol used, we found the following results. Smoking patients in group I showed a significantly (P = 0.023) lower embryo score and produced fewer oocytes (P = 0.0113), with fewer of them being fertilized (P = 0.0072) and transferred (P = 0.0067). Women who smoked had significantly (P = 0.0002) higher basal LH levels, but their HPRL levels were significantly (P = 0.031) lower than those of nonsmokers. Furthermore, they had a thinner endometrium on the day of embryo transfer (P = 0.0366). In group II we measured significantly elevated basal E2 levels (P = 0.0089) and higher LH values (P = 0.0092) in smokers. Group III showed a trend (P = 0.0565) toward lower HPRL values in smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the fertilization rate of oocytes and the pregnancy rate were not significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers, we found significantly alterated hormonal parameters and negatively influenced oocyte parameters, particularly after clomiphene stimulation. So we might consider using only GnRHa protocols for smoking patients. Additionally, we advise our patients to stop smoking before an IVF-ET treatment because of the complex effects of smoking on the reproductive and hormonal system.

Caffeine elimination in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver disease of different etiology

Caffeine elimination was studied in 419 patients with cirrhotic and noncirrhotic liver disease of different etiology (hepatitis B virus infection n = 79; hepatitis NANB virus infection n = 74; ethanol-induced liver damage n = 143; primary biliary cirrhosis I-IV n = 63; cryptogenic liver cirrhosis n = 60) following oral administration of 366 mg caffeine. Caffeine clearance in the control group was 69 +/- 33 ml/min (age-matched healthy volunteers and patients without liver disease). Caffeine clearance in acute hepatitis B (70 +/- 60 ml/min) chronic persistent hepatitis B (81 +/- 56 ml/min), chronic aggressive hepatitis B (107 +/- 66 ml/min), posthepatitic liver cirrhosis B (84 +/- 62 ml/min), acute hepatitis NANB (94 +/- 69 ml/min), chronic persistent hepatitis NANB (122 +/- 60 ml/min), chronic aggressive hepatitis NANB (87 +/- 52 ml/min) and posthepatitic cirrhosis NANB (59 +/- 26 ml/min) is not reduced in comparison with controls. In patients with alcoholic fatty liver (127 +/- 71 ml/min, p < 0.05) caffeine clearance is enhanced, in alcoholic hepatitis (57 +/- 72 ml/min) comparable to controls and in alcoholic cirrhosis reduced (36 +/- 44 ml/min, p < 0.05). In primary biliary cirrhosis I-IV caffeine clearance is higher than in controls (117 +/- 59 ml/min, p < 0.05). In cirrhotic liver disease of different origin caffeine clearance is inversely related to the serum bilirubin level. However, the absolute value is determined in addition by the underlying disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of short-chain fatty acids on the human colonic mucosa in vitro

Fermentable dietary fiber components are known to stimulate colonic crypt proliferation. As these compounds are rapidly degraded to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by the anaerobic microflora, the hypothesis was tested that this trophic effect of fiber may be mediated by SCFAs. Biopsies were taken from normal cecal mucosa of 45 individuals during routine colonoscopy. They were incubated for 3 hours with sodium salts of SCFAs at physiological concentrations (three SCFAs = acetate 60 mmol/L + propionate 25 mmol/L + butyrate 10 mmol/L; acetate 60 mmol/L; propionate 25 mmol/L; butyrate 10 mmol/L) or equimolar NaCl (control). Cell proliferation was measured autoradiographically by subsequent pulse labeling with [3H]thymidine (1 hour). The labeling index (number of labeled cells divided by the total number of cells) was computed for the crypt as a whole and for five equal crypt compartments (compartment 1 = crypt base, compartment 5 = crypt surface). Cecal crypt proliferation was raised significantly in all incubation experiments with SCFAs. Butyrate (10 mmol/L, increase + 89%) and propionate (25 mmol/L, + 70%) were as effective in stimulating proliferation as the combination of three SCFAs (+103%), although the effect of acetate (+31%) was minor. Increasing the butyrate concentration to 25 mmol/L or 60 mmol/L did not result in a further increase of cell labeling. SCFAs stimulated proliferation in the basal three crypt compartments only. An expansion of the proliferative zone to compartments 4 and 5 was not observed. SCFAs, especially butyrate and propionate, are luminal trophic factors for the cecal epithelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[One point determination of oral caffeine clearance in patients with liver diseases]

Caffeine clearance has been determined in 117 volunteers and patients (including 27 patients with liver cirrhosis) after oral application of 366.1 mg caffeine according to conventional pharmacokinetic methods (Cl = D/AUC). The resulting clearance values can be estimated with adequate accuracy from the plasma concentration at 12h for a concentration range of 2.0 to 6.5 mg/l according to Cl max = Doses/C 12h x t 12h x e and for concentrations higher than 6.5 mg/l according to Cl = Vd x (1n (D/Vd) - 1n C 12h/t 12h Vd is estimated from body weight as Vd = 0.42 x BW. "One - point" - estimation does not provide reliable data for plasma concentrations below 2.0 mg/l.

Factors influencing the caffeine test for cytochrome P 448-dependent liver function

Liver functions in patients with liver disease can be estimated by caffeine clearance. Our data, however, demonstrate the additional influence of factors other than liver disease on the caffeine test. Smoking enhances caffeine clearance in both healthy volunteers and patients with severe hepatic disorders, whereas co-medication with mexiletine strongly inhibits caffeine elimination.