IgG and IgE immune response against the surface glycoprotein gp200 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in patients with atopic dermatitis

The heat-stable and soluble glycoprotein gp200 (molecular weight 200 kDa) is part of the cell wall of S. cerevisiae. Recently, an association was shown between IgA and IgG against gp200 and inflammation in Crohn's disease. Gp200 is able to induce a proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro, together with a natural killer cell associated cytotoxicity. Specific IgE against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's or brewer's yeast) may be detected in approximately 73 %, against Candida albicans in 68% of those patients suffering from severe atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible role of an anti-gp200 immune response for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis by immunoblot analysis. Anti-gp200 IgE was found in 55% of healthy individuals, in 67% of individuals with atopic predisposition without eczema, in 63% of the patients with mild atopic dermatitis, and in 86% of patients with severe atopic dermatitis, respectively. On the contrary, anti-gp200 IgG could be shown in 55% of healthy individuals, in 89% of individuals with atopic predisposition but without eczema, in 100% of patients with mild atopic dermatitis, and in 79% with severe atopic dermatitis, respectively. No immunoreactivity was found when an extract of Arxula adeninivorans was used as antigen. These results underline the specificity of the immunoblot results with gp200 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It can be concluded that occurrence of specific IgE against Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot be explained by a cross reactivity, e.g., against Candida albicansallergens. Further investigations with the recombinant gp200 will give information on the role of this glycoprotein both in atopic dermatitis and Morbus Crohn. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nickel allergy and relationship with Staphylococcus aureus in atopic dermatitis

BackgroundThe increase of nickel air pollution is supposed to frequent side effects of nickel action related to virulence potential of Staphylococcus aureus in patients with nickel allergy in atopic dermatitis. The goal was to investigate the relationship between nickel allergy and infection by S. aureus in atopic dermatitis.MethodsNickel allergy was confirmed in atopic patients and excluded in healthy volunteers using patch testing. Infection by S. aureus was tested in atopic patients and healthy volunteers by use of API Staph system. The specific IgE for staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B were measured. Secretion of IFN-g, IL-2, IL-13 by PBMC under nickel sulfate and the enterotoxins A and B stimulations were studied with ELISpot.ResultsWe found the increased number of infections by S. aureus in atopic patients with nickel allergy in comparison to atopic patients and healthy volunteers without nickel allergy. The elevated secretion of IL-2 under nickel sulfate stimulation in vitro was exclusively found in atopic patients with nickel allergy infected by S. aureus.ConclusionsOur data suggest that nickel allergy and infection by S. aureus are linked in atopic dermatitis.     

A new yeast, Malassezia yamatoensis, isolated from a patient with seborrheic dermatitis, and its distribution in patients and healthy subjects

Over the last few years, new Malassezia species have been found regularly in Japanese subjects. We isolated another new Malassezia species from a Japanese patient with seborrheic dermatitis (SD), and named it M. yamatoensis. In its physiological characteristics and the utilization of Tween by M. yamatoensis is similar to that of M. furfur and M. dermatis. It is distinguished by its growth temperature. To examine the distribution of the microorganism in the skin of patients with SD and atopic dermatitis (AD), and healthy subjects, we applied transparent dressings to the skin, and detected M. yamatoensis DNA using a non-culture-based method that consisted of nested PCR with specific primers. M. yamatoensis DNA was detected from 3 of 31 SD patients (9.7%), 5 of 36 AD patients (13.9%), and 1 of 22 healthy subjects (4.6%). Therefore, M. yamatoensis is a rare member of the cutaneous microflora.     

Atopy patch test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp 1) in atopic dermatitis patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) in atopic dermatitis patients, using atopy patch test (APT) with Dp (extract 1). Twenty patients (males (m) = 9, females (f) = 11, mean age = 46.0 years, range = 19-78 years) with atopic dermatitis were involved in this study. The control group consisted of seventeen healthy subjects (m = 7, f = 10, mean age = 48.3, range = 24-64 years), with no personal or family history and no signs of atopy. Total IgE, specific IgE and a skin prick test were done for all subjects involved in this study. The atopy patch tests were performed with Dp (extract 1) in: 3,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 biological units per ml (BU/ml) concentrations using glycerol as medium. The total IgE was significantly higher in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients than in a control group with (p < 0.05). After the tests six of twenty patients (30%) had positive APT results in the last two concentrations (20,000 and 30,000 BU/ml). However, all the results were positive after 48 h (and 72 hours), while no positive results were recorded in the control subjects. According to our study, APT with Dp 1 in 20,000 BU/ml and reading time 48 h and 72 hours is to be recommended. The results suggest that APT may detect the trigger factor (Dp) in AD patients.     

Effects of winter cold stress on photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency of PSII of the Mediterranean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cistus albidus</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> L.

This study examined the photosynthetic and growth performances of potted plants of Cistus albidus L. and Quercus ilex L. submitted either to natural Mediterranean winter conditions or to mild greenhouse conditions. Plants grown outdoors exhibited lower light and CO₂-saturated CO₂ assimilation rates (A_sat) and apparent quantum yield (_i) than those indoors. Until mid-winter, C. albidus had higher A_sat than Q. ilex, but differences disappeared after a period of severe cold. Maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) measured predawn was higher in C. albidus than in Q. ilex, and decreased throughout the season in outdoor plants. Fv/Fm also decreased at light saturation (A_sat) in both species. Fv/Fm was correlated with photosynthetic capacity and efficiency (quantum yield), but the resulting regression slopes were different between the two species. At the physiological level, C. albidus seemed to cope better with cold stress than Q. ilex. However, winter stress induced reduction of leaf absorptance, increased leaf mass per area, extensive leaf damage and high plant mortality in C. albidus. This suggests that the high performance of C. albidus leaves is not likely to be maintained for long periods of cold stress, and may therefore depend on continuous leaf replacement. Quercus ilex showed a conservative behaviour, with low net assimilation rates but greater leaf and plant survival than C. albidus.     

Genotype analysis of Malassezia restricta as the major cutaneous flora in patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects

Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia colonize the skin surface of humans and are an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD). Two species, M. restricta and M. globosa are major cutaneous microflora in both AD patients and healthy subjects. We compared the DNA sequences of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region, located between the 26S and 5S rRNA genes of M. restricta colonizing the skin surfaces of 13 AD patients and 12 healthy subjects, and of three CBS stock strains as references. The IGS 1 sequences were divided into two major groups, corresponding to AD patients and healthy subjects. These findings suggest that a specific genotype of M. restricta plays a significant role in AD, although M. restricta commonly colonizes both AD patients and healthy subjects.     

Establishment of Two Ectomycorrhizal Shrub Species in a Semiarid Site after in Situ Amendment with Sugar Beet, Rock Phosphate, and Aspergillus niger

A field experiment was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the addition of sugar beet, rock phosphate, and Aspergillus niger directly into the planting hole, and the mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings with Scleroderma verrucosum, for promotion of plant growth of Cistus albidus L. and Quercus coccifera L. and enhancement of soil physicochemical, biochemical, and biological properties, in a degraded semiarid Mediterranean area. One year after planting, the available phosphorus content in the amended soils of both species was about fourfold higher than in the nonamended soil. Amendment addition increased the aggregate stability of the rhizosphere of C. albidus (by 56% with respect to control soil) while the mycorrhizal inoculation increased only the aggregate stability of the rhizosphere of Q. coccifera (by 13% with respect to control soil). Biomass C content and enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, urease, protease-BAA, acid phosphatase, and -glucosidase) of the rhizosphere of C. albidus were increased by amendment addition but not by mycorrhizal inoculation. Both treatments increased enzyme activities of the rhizosphere of Q. coccifera. The mycorrhizal inoculation of the seedlings with S. verrucosum was the most effective treatment for stimulating the growth of C. albidus (by 469% with respect to control plants) and Q. coccifera (by 74% with respect to control plants). The combined treatment, involving mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings and addition of the amendment directly into soil, had no additive effect on the growth of either shrub species.     

IgE heavy chain constant region genes in atopic dermatitis and senile erythroderma patients

By Southern hybridization using a genomic DNA fragment carrying a human IgE heavy chain constant region gene (C ) as a probe, we analyzed the organization of human C genes and their flanking regions in 23 atopic dermatitis and 6 senile erythroderma patients with elevated serum IgE levels, and 6 atopic dermatitis patients with normal IgE levels. On Barn HI, Hind III, and Eco RI digestions, we detected three hybridizable fragments containing three human C genes, C 1, C 2, and C 3, respectively, in all leukocyte DNAs. These fragments were almost identical in size among patients and healthy donors. Pst I digestion generated a genetic polymorphism. We, however, could find no correlation between this polymorphism and the disorders. It was concluded that among the patients and healthy donors, there was no marked difference in the organization of the functional C gene and its flanking region containing a class switch region. Our conclusion cannot rule out the presence of genetic abnormalities of this region in some atopic dermatitis patients which are not resolvable by our method. In the course of this study, we found a novel C -like gene in placenta DNA which differs from the three C genes commonly present in normal human DNA.     

Evaluation of the Experimental Inoculation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus albidus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus laurentii</Emphasis> in Normal Mice: Virulence Factors and Molecular Profile Before and After Animal Passage

The genus Cryptococcus includes free-developing species, a few of which are of medical importance. Some, such as C. neoformans and C. gattii, cause infections in man frequently and C. albidus and C. laurentii cause less so. The aims of this study were to evaluate organ colonization after inoculation of C. albidus and C. laurentii isolates in normal BALB/c mice, the virulence factors (growth at 37°C, capsule, melanin, proteinase, and phospholipase production) and the molecular profile (PCR-fingerprinting) of the yeasts before and after infection. The importance of different profiles (virulence and molecular) was considered in relation to the distribution in different organs and to the time intervals of isolation from organs. C. albidus was isolated from animal organs 2 to 10 days after inoculation and C. laurentii from 2 to 120 days. Most isolates of the two species kept the virulence factors showed before inoculation. The high homogeneity of the molecular profile of C. albidus and the high heterogeneity of C. laurentii were kept through the passages in animals. It is concluded that most isolates of both species were recovered from the animal organs after 5 or more days, and phenotypes were not altered by inoculation. No molecular alteration was detected and the virulence factors were not related to the time intervals before isolation from organs.     

The basidiomycetous yeasts Cryptococcus diffluens and C. liquefaciens colonize the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis

Our previous research showed that lipophilic yeasts, Malassezia species, colonize the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) at a high frequency. In this study, we found that two basidiomycetous yeasts, Cryptococcus diffluens and C. liquefaciens, colonize the skin significantly more frequently in AD patients than in healthy subjects. Transparent dressings were applied to the skin of 36 AD patients and 30 healthy subjects and then transferred onto Sabouraud dextrose agar. Colonies recovered from the medium were identified by DNA sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer regions and the D1/D2 26S rRNA gene. C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens were isolated from 42% (15/36) and 33% (12/36) of AD patients and from 20% (6/30) and 20% (6/30) of healthy subjects, respectively. In addition, fungal DNA was extracted directly from the dressings and amplified in a specific nested PCR assay. C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens DNA were detected in dressings from 97% (35/36) and 86% (31/36) of the AD patients and 47% (14/30) and 37% (11/30) of the healthy subjects, respectively. These findings show that Malassezia spp. are not the only yeasts that colonize the skin of AD patients; Cryptococcus spp. also are present in a high proportion of patients. The role of these microorganisms in AD is as yet unknown, but the current findings, in combination with previous results, indicate that C. diffluens, C. liquefaciens, M. globosa, and M. restricta together colonize the skin surface of AD patients at a high frequency.     

Yeasts of the Miami,Florida, Area

The examination of a total of 301 yeast cultures collected from 22 water samples in the Miami River has demonstrated the presence of 18 different yeasts, including 6 sporogenous and 12 asporogenous species.The more frequent species were Sacch. carlsbergensis (100%), Cand. tropicalis (31%), Pichia fermentans (22%) Torulopsis glabrata (18%) and Cryptococcus albidus (18%).Comparison of Miami River studies with earlier collections made in Key Biscayne soil as well as in Biscayne Bay reveals the occurrence of common species in all three habitats.     

Characterization of the skin fungal microbiota in patients with atopic dermatitis and in healthy subjects

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly susceptible to viral, bacterial, and fungal skin infections because their skin is dry and this compromises the barrier function of the skin. Therefore, the skin microbiota of patients with AD is believed to be different from that of healthy individuals. In the present study, the skin fungal microbiota of nine patients with mild, moderate, or severe AD and ten healthy subjects were compared using an rRNA clone library. Fungal D1/D2 large subunit analysis of 3647 clones identified 58 species and seven unknown phylotypes in face scale samples from patients with AD and healthy subjects. Malassezia species were predominant, accounting for 63%-86% of the clones identified from each subject. Overall, the non-Malassezia yeast microbiota of the patients was more diverse than that of the healthy individuals. In the AD samples 13.0 ± 3.0 species per case were detected, as compared to 8.0 ± 1.9 species per case in the samples taken from healthy individuals. Notably, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus diffluens, and Cryptococcus liquefaciens were detected in the samples from the patients with AD. Of the filamentous fungal microbiota, Cladosporium spp. and Toxicocladosporium irritans were the predominant species in these patients. Many pathogenic fungi, including Meyerozyma guilliermondii (anamorphic name, Candida guilliermondii), and Trichosporon asahii, and allergenic microorganisms such as Alternaria alternata and Aureobasidium pullulans were found on the skin of the healthy subjects. When the fungal microbiota of the samples from patients with mild/moderate to severe AD and healthy individuals were clustered together by principal coordinates analysis they were found to be clustered according to health status.     

Comparative photochemical and phenomorphological responses to winter stress of an evergreen (Quercus ilex L.) and a semi-deciduous (Cistus albidus L.) Mediterranean woody species

The impact of winter stress on plants from a Mediterranean area was evaluated through comparison of photosystem II (PS II) efficiencies and phenomorphological characteristics of two Mediterranean woody species – Quercus ilex (evergreen) and Cistus albidus (semi-deciduous). The studies were carried out in NE Spain, at two sites with different mean winter temperatures. The results showed that reductions of the efficiency of PS II may occur in Mediterranean plant communities during winter, and are especially remarkable on colder days. The extent and duration of the decrease in PS II efficiency (photoinhibition) depended not only on the climatic conditions, but also on the site, on the species considered and on the position of leaves in the plant canopy. Increased photoinhibition at the colder site was only clear for C. albidus. Nevertheless, the efficiencies of PS II were always higher in C. albidus than in Q. ilex. Phenological patterns, morphology and leaf inclination may protect C. albidus leaves from potentially photoinhibitory conditions in winter. Morphological and structural photoprotection is apparently not so well developed in Q. ilex, which probably relies more on increased protection at the photochemical level of its long-lived leaves. As has been reported in relation to summer-drought stress, Q. ilex has possibly developed a strategy of tolerance to photoinhibition, whereas C. albidus relies preferentially on avoidance features.     

Presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. albidus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. laurentii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. uniguttulatus</Emphasis> in Crop and Droppings of Pigeon Lofts (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis>)

Columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus. Upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for Cryptococcus neoformans. Given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in Grand Canary Island have been studied. The obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of Cryptococcus spp. in analysed crops: 32 (9.66%) for C. neoformans, 24 (7.2%) for C. uniguttulatus, 23 (6.9%) for C. albidus and 2 (0.6%) for C. laurentii. In the same way, Cryptococcus spp was also isolated in 82 (47.13%), dropping samples: C. neoformans in 59 (33.9%), C. uniguttulatus, in 9 (5.17%), C. laurentii in 8 (4.59%) and C. albidus in 6 (3.44%) of the investigated samples, respectively. The cryptococcosis produced by species of cryptococci other than C. neoformans has become more important during the last decade, supporting the study on the role of pigeon in the epidemiology of this disease.     

Spectrum of in vivo and in vitro cell-mediated immune responses in coccidioidomycosis.

The cell-mediated immune responses of 12 healthy, coccidioidin skin-test positive subjects (Group I) were compared with those of 15 healthy, coccidioidin skin-test positive persons who had primary asymptomatic coccidiodomycosis, (Group II), 12 patients with active, pulmonary coccidioidomycosis (Group III), four patients with disseminated disease (Group IV), and five patients who had been in clinical remission for 1 year or longer (Group V). Lymphocytes from healthy subjects in Groups I and II responded in vitro to Coccidioides immitis antigen by undergoing an increased DNA synthesis (lymphocyte transformation) and/or by producing macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). In contrast, patients in Groups III and IV failed to respond to Coccidioides antigens in vivo (skin tests) or in vitro (lymphocyte transformation and production of MIF). The responses of subjects in Group V with inactive disease fell in between those of healthy donors in Groups I and II and patients in Groups III and IV. The cellular immune defect, in terms of antigen recognition, appeared to be specific for C. immitis in all but one patient.     

Osmoregulation in two aquatic oligochaetes from habitats with different salinity and comparison to other annelids

The osmoregulatory capacity of two oligochaete species, Enchytraeus albidus Henle, 1837, and Heterochaeta costata (Claparède, 1863), was investigated by direct measurements of the osmolality of the coelomic fluid. Terrestrial and marine (28 S) populations of Enchytraeus albidus and a brackish water population (14 S) of H. costata were used in the study. The range of salinity acclimation investigated was 0–40. The response to osmotic stress was measured (a) after a long-term maintenance (>14 days) in various salinities (E. albidus only), and (b) after a hyperosmotic shock as a short-term time-course sequence. The rate of water loss following a hyperosmotic shock was measured for E. albidus. Long-term acclimation. E. albidus maintained a hyperosmotic coelomic fluid over all salinities tested. In low salinities the osmolality of the coelomic fluid of the marine population was significantly higher than that of the terrestrial population. Possible genetic discrepancies or long-term acclimation may account for this difference. The coelomic fluid of H. costata was hyperosmotic at 15%. S and isoosmotic at 30 S. Short-term acclimation (hyperosmotic shock). Both species investigated, kept at 15 S and then exposed to a salinity of 30, showed fast responses: within the first two hours the internal concentrations were adjusted to the new external condition with only small subsequent changes. Regulation of the body-water content after an exposure to a hyperosmotic shock was much slower: individuals of terrestrial E. albidus, acclimated for two weeks to either 0 or 15 S, had the same water content; hence, they showed a 100% regulation. However, after exposure to 30 S, a 100% regulation was still not attained 4 days after the hyperosmotic shock. Enchytraeus albidus is capable of actively reducing water loss following the hyperosmotic shock: the observed loss of water was only 40% of that expected for a passive osmotic flow. The observed reactions are compared with those in other annelids. It seems that an active transport of ions combined with a changeable permeability of the body wall play a major role in the regulation of body fluids.     

The impact of Helicobacter pylori on atopic disorders in childhood

Background: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Western populations has steadily decreased. This has been suggested as one of the factors involved in the recent increase of asthma and allergy. Some studies have reported a negative association between H. pylori and asthma and allergy, but data are inconsistent and there are a few studies in children. Aim: We investigated whether the prevalence of H. pylori was associated with asthma symptoms, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in childhood. Methods: We determined IgG anti‐H. pylori and CagA antibodies in serum of Dutch children, who took part in the PIAMA birth cohort study. Serum was collected from 545 children, aged 7–9 years (Dutch ethnicity 91.5%). Symptoms of asthma and atopy were assessed by yearly questionnaires. Chi‐square tests and logistic regression were used. Results: We found 9%H. pylori and 0.9% CagA seropositivity. Twelve (5.9%) children with reported wheezing ever were H. pylori positive, compared to 37 (10.9%) of the non‐wheezers (p = .05). No significant differences in H. pylori prevalence were found between children with or without allergic rhinitis (8.5% vs 9.5%), atopic dermatitis (8.7% vs 9.2%), and physician‐diagnosed asthma (7.1% vs 9.4%). Multivariate analysis showed no significant associations between H. pylori seropositivity and wheezing (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.25–1.06), allergic rhinitis (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.51–1.81), atopic dermatitis (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.56–1.98) or physician‐diagnosed asthma (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.37–2.08). Conclusion: We found a borderline significantly lower H. pylori seropositivity in children with wheezing compared to non‐wheezers, but no association between H. pylori serum‐antibody status and allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, or asthma.     

Laboratory studies on the life-histories of four enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) which inhabit sewage percolating filters

The life-histories of four enchytraeid worms, Lumbricillus rivalis, Enchy-traeus coronatus, E. buchholzi, and E. albidus which occur in sewage percolating filters, were studied under laboratory conditions at 8 , 15 and 20°C. The number of ova per cocoon varied from 0 to 50 (L. rivalis), 0 to 33 (E. coronatus), 1 to 9 (E. buchholzi) and 0 to 22 (E. albidus). The mean number of ova per cocoon was highest at 15°C for all species except E. coronatus which had a highest mean value at 8°C. The number of ova in cocoons was correlated with cocoon length (P < 0.001) for all species. Cocoon production usually increased with temperature ranging from 0.8 cocoons per adult per week at 8°C to 2.0 at 20°C for L. rivalis, and from 1–4 to about 2.6 for E. coronatus and E. buchholzi. The total number of ova produced by each E. coronatus (350 at 8°C to 550 at 20°C) was similar to that produced by each L. rivalis (600 at 8°C to 350 at 20°C) and was about five times greater than the total numbers produced by the other two species. Cocoon and ova production and the number of ova per cocoon varied with the age of the adult, usually reaching a peak soon after maturity. Hatching success was low and generally 40–50 % of ova failed to develop; subsequent mortality among immature worms was about 10–20%. Growth was more rapid at the higher temperatures; L. rivalis matured in about 26 days at 20°C, the clitellum forming when the worm was 13–14 mm long; data for the other species are 13 days and 5–6 mm (E. coronatus); 16 days and 3–4 mm (E. buchholzi); 28 days and 13–14 mm (E. albidus). The maturation period at 8°C was at least twice that at 20°C. The generation period (cocoon to cocoon) was about a month at 20°C for all species except E. albidus (2 months), but as some species had longer reproductive periods than others the actual number of generations per year was highest in E. buchholzi, 7.0 per year, and lowest in E. albidus, about 3.3 per year, At 8°C all four species had between 1.4 and 2.8 generations a year. A comparison of expected and observed population densities of L. rivalis and E. coronatus in a sewage percolating filter showed that neither achieved values approaching their potential summer densities although ample food was apparently available. Of the four species studied only E. buchholzi produced viable ova without pairing.     

Association of polymorphisms in the toll-like receptor genes with atopic dermatitis in the Republic of Bashkortostan

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease and depends on the interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition. A considerable role in allergic disorders is played by polymorphisms of the genes of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which recognize conserved standard molecular structures (patterns) unique to large pathogen groups. Polymorphisms of several PRR genes, including the genes of Toll-like receptors (TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR9, and TLR10), NOD-like receptors (NOD1 and NOD2), and a lipopolysaccharide receptor (CD14) along with C11orf30 and LRRC32 from chromosome 11q13.5, were studied in atopic dermatitis patients and control subjects from Bashkortostan. TLR1 (rs5743571 and rs5743604), TLR6 (rs5743794), and TLR10 (rs11466617) polymorphisms were associated with atopic dermatitis. The results supported the idea that innate immunity and polymorphisms of the TLR2-family genes play a substantial role in atopic dermatitis.     

Helicobacter pylori infection increases serum nitrate and nitrite more prominently than serum pepsinogens

Background. Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis and results in increased serum concentrations of pepsinogens I and II as well as gastrin, while the ratio of pepsinogen I to II (I : II) is decreased. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is induced in H. pylori‐associated gastritis and may modulate inflammation. However serum nitrate and nitrite (NOx) concentrations in patients with H. pylori‐induced chronic gastritis have not been reported. We examined differences in serum NOx between H. pylori‐negative and positive volunteers relative to differences in pepsinogens and gastrin. Materials and methods. Sera from 80 healthy asymptomatic volunteers younger than 36 years were analyzed for anti‐H. pylori antibody, NOx, gastrin and pepsinogens. Results. In H. pylori antibody‐positive subjects serum NOx concentrations were higher than in negative subjects (p < .005). In H. pylori‐negative subjects, NOx correlated with pepsinogen II (r = .405, p < .05). In subjects with low pepsinogen I or II, NOx was higher in H. pylori‐positive than negative subjects (p < .001). In subjects with high pepsinogen I : II (6 or higher), serum NOx was higher in H. pylori‐positive than in negative subjects. Conclusions. H. pylori‐induced gastritis increases serum NOx concentrations more prominently than those of pepsinogen. In H. pylori‐negative subjects, serum correlates with serum pepsinogen II.