No description available.

No description available.

Isolation and identification of all yeast species found on skin affected by atopic dermatitis, evaluation of their influence to the synthesis of IgE antibodies, and assessment of the possible cross-reactivity between different yeast species was performed. It was shown that in 36.9 % of the cases of atopic dermatitis, the affected skin was colonized with yeast belonging to three genera: Candida, Malassezia and Rhodotorula. Systematic and phylogenetic analysis of sequences from atypical Malassezia restricta strain M8 indicated that this isolate could be a member of a new yeast species. Three atypical Malassezia isolates M47, M54 and M235 were identified as non-lipid-dependent variants of Malassezia furfur. It was shown that in atopic dermatitis, cutaneous colonization with yeast is two-fold higher in adults than in children. The sera of atopic dermatitis patients have specific IgE antibodies to cross-reactive intracellular yeast antigens. Candida pelliculosa and house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae might share some allergenic epitopes. The results of this study suggest that attention should be given to a cutaneous colonization by saprophytic yeast since the immune response to the allergens could further exacerbate allergic inflammation due to cross-reactive epitopes. / Išskirtos ir identifikuotos atopinio dermatito pažeistą odą kolonizuojančios mielių rūšys, įvertinta jų įtaka specifinių IgE antikūnų sintezei bei kryžminių reakcijų tarp skirtingų mielių rūšių galimybė. Nustatyta, kad 36,9 % atvejų atopinio dermatito pažeista oda yra kolonizuojama Candida, Malassezia ir Rhodotorula genties mielėmis. Išskirtas netipinėmis fiziologinėmis savybėmis pasižymintis Malassezia restricta kamienas M8 gali būti naujos rūšies atstovas. Išskirti netipinėmis fiziologinėmis savybėmis pasižymintys Malassezia genties kamienai M47, M54 ir M235 identifikuoti kaip nuo išorinio lipidų šaltinio nepriklausantys Malassezia furfur. Įrodyta, kad mielės suaugusių asmenų atopinio dermatito pažeistą odą kolonizuoja du kartus dažniau negu vaikų. Įrodyta, kad atopiniu dermatitu sergančių asmenų kraujo serume aptinkama prieš kryžmiškai reaguojančius mielių viduląstelinius antigenus nukreiptų specifinių IgE antikūnų. Taip pat nustatyta, kad Candida pelliculosa ir namų dulkių erkių Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ir Dermatophagoides farinae alergenai gali turėti panašius epitopus. Darbo rezultatai patikimai rodo, kad atopinio dermatito pažeistą odą kolonizuojančios komensalinės mielės gali pasunkinti atopinio dermatito eigą dėl kryžmiškai reaguojančių epitopų tarp skirtingų biologinių rūšių antigenų.

One of the purposes of allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is to modulate the humoral immune response against allergens with significant increases in allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 levels. These antibodies are associated with blocking activity by preventing IgE binding to allergen and leading to reduced inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate in vitro blocking activity of allergen-specific IgG antibodies on IgE reactivity to D. pteronyssinus (Dpt) in sera from atopic patients. Dpt-specific IgG antibodies were obtained from atopic sera and irrelevant IgG from non-atopic sera. IgG antibodies were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Protein-G affinity chromatography and evaluated with regards to purity by SDS-PAGE and immunoreactivity by slot-blot and immunoblot assays. The blocking activity was evaluated by inhibition ELISA. The electrophoretical profile after salting-out precipitation showed an enrichment of high molecular weight proteins in the precipitated fraction and strongly stained bands in the ligand fraction after chromatography, compatible with molecular weight of human IgG. It was detected strong immunoreactivity to IgG, negligible to IgA, and no reactivity to IgE and IgM. Dpt-specific IgG fraction was capable to significantly reduce levels of IgE anti-Dpt, resulting in 35-51% inhibition of IgE reactivity to Dpt in atopic patient sera. Allergen-specific IgG antibodies purified using available and standardized methodology are able to inhibit IgE reactivity to Dpt allergen extract. In addition to the clinical symptoms improvement (subjective parameter), this approach reinforces that the intermittent measurement of serum allergen-specific IgG antibodies will be an important objective laboratorial parameter that will help specialists to follow their patients under SIT. / Uma das propostas da imunoterapia alérgeno específica é a de modular a resposta imune humoral contra alérgenos, com aumento significativo nos níveis de IgG1 e IgG4 específicos. Esses anticorpos estão associados com uma atividade bloqueadora, impedindo a ligação de anticorpos IgE ao alérgeno e levando a uma redução nas respostas inflamatórias. Esse estudo objetivou investigar a atividade bloqueadora, in vitro, de anticorpos IgG específicos sobre a reatividade de IgE a D. pteronyssinus (Dpt) em soros de pacientes atópicos. Anticorpos IgG específicos foram obtidos de soros de pacientes atópicos, e IgG irrelevante a partir de soros de não atópicos, e depois purificados por precipitação com sulfato de amônio, seguido de cromatografia de afinidade em Proteina G-agarose. A pureza desses anticorpos foi avaliada por SDS-PAGE, a imunoreatividade por ensaios de slot-blot e immunoblot, e a atividade bloqueadora por ELISA inibição. O perfil eletroforético, após precipitação com sulfato de amônio, mostrou um enriquecimento de proteínas de alto peso molecular na fração precipitada,e bandas fortemente coradas na fração ligante após a cromatografia, compatíveis com o peso molecular de IgG humana. Foi detectada uma forte imunoreatividade para IgG, leve para IgA, e nenhuma reatividade para IgE e IgM. A Fração IgG específica foi capaz de reduzir significantemente os níveis de IgE anti-Dpt, resultando em 35-51% de inibição da reatividade de IgE a Dpt em pools de soros de pacientes atópicos. Anticorpos IgG específicos purificados, através de uma metodologia disponível e padronizada, são capazes de inibir a reatividade de IgE ao extrato alergênico Dpt. Além da melhoria da sintomatologia clínica, considerada um parâmetro subjetivo, essa abordagem reforça que a avaliação intermitente de anticorpos IgG alérgeno-específicos pode ser uma ferramenta importante, auxiliando especialistas a acompanharem seus pacientes em processo de imunoterapia específica. / Mestre em Ciências da Saúde

No description available.

Submitted by PPG Pediatria e Sa?de da Crian?a (pediatria-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-02-16T19:15:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese final 2018 - artigo publicado.pdf: 1647298 bytes, checksum: 03a39af4be2d469330c9618fb70f9cdd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2018-02-23T16:28:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese final 2018 - artigo publicado.pdf: 1647298 bytes, checksum: 03a39af4be2d469330c9618fb70f9cdd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-23T16:35:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese final 2018 - artigo publicado.pdf: 1647298 bytes, checksum: 03a39af4be2d469330c9618fb70f9cdd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-12 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Background: Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways, characterized by bronchial inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, which affects approximately 300 million people around the world. The increase in the prevalence of asthma in recent years has been associated with an increase in vitamin D deficiency. About 1 billion people in the world have insufficient levels of vitamin D due to many factors such as reduced outdoor activities, sunscreens use and a diet low in vitamin D. In addition, many studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency has a direct effect on lung function, leading to changes in the structure of the airways and in the inflammatory process. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency at different life stages in a murine model of allergic airways disease house dust mite (HDM) induced on inflammation and lung function. Methods: Female BALB / c mice were placed in a diet replete or deficient in vitamin D at three-week old. At 8 weeks, females were mated with males on a diet replete in vitamin D. At birth, pups were cross-fostered to assess the effects of vitamin D deficiency at different stages of life, in utero (Vit D -/+), postnatal (Vit D +/-) and whole-life (Vit D - / -) compared to the control group whole-life vitamin D replete (Vit D + / +). At 8 weeks of age, mice of both sexes were challenged for 10 consecutive days intranasally with either HDM extract or saline solution after mild anesthesia. The animals were anesthetized for lung function test and then submitted to euthanasia for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue removal 24 hours after the last intranasal challenge. The total BAL cell count and collagen quantification of lung tissue homogenized were evaluated. Results: Vitamin D deficiency did not affect HDM-induced inflammation, which was characterized by BAL eosinophilia. Vitamin D deficiency at any life stage (in utero, postnatal and all life) caused impairment of lung function, increased tissue damping and tissue elastance, being particularly observed in females. On the other hand, the asthma HDM-induced decreased airway distensibility, but only in females and vitamin D do not altered this response. Conclusion: Our results suggest that vitamin D and HDM have different mechanisms that influence in the development of allergic lung disease and furthermore the effects appear to be sex-specific. / Introdu??o: A asma ? uma doen?a cr?nica das vias a?reas, caracterizada por inflama??o e hiperresponsividade br?nquica, que atinge aproximadamente 300 milh?es de pessoas ao redor do mundo. O aumento da preval?ncia da asma nos ?ltimos anos tem sido associado ao aumento da defici?ncia de vitamina D. Cerca de 1 bilh?o de pessoas no mundo apresenta n?veis insuficientes de vitamina D em fun??o de diversos fatores, tais como a redu??o de atividades ao ar livre, uso de protetor solar e dieta pobre em vitamina D. Al?m disso, estudos sugerem que a defici?ncia de vitamina D possui um efeito direto na fun??o pulmonar, causando altera??es na estrutura das vias a?reas e no processo inflamat?rio. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da defici?ncia de vitamina D em diferentes est?gios da vida de camundongos com asma induzida por ?caro domiciliar (house dust mite; HDM) sobre a inflama??o e fun??o pulmonar. M?todos: Camundongos BALB/c f?meas receberam dieta rica ou deficiente em vitamina D a partir da terceira semana de vida. Com 8 semanas de vida, as f?meas foram acasaladas com machos em dieta rica em vitamina D. Ao nascimento foi realizado o cross-fostering (ado??o cruzada) com a prole para que fosse poss?vel avaliar o efeito da defici?ncia de vitamina D em diferentes est?gios da vida, in utero (Vit D -/+), p?s-natal (Vit D +/-) e durante toda a vida (Vit D -/-), em compara??o ao grupo controle, que recebeu dieta rica em vitamina D durante toda a vida (Vit D +/+). Com 8 semanas de vida, camundongos de ambos os sexos foram desafiados por 10 dias consecutivos por via intranasal, com extrato de HDM ou apenas solu??o salina. Os animais foram anestesiados para a realiza??o do teste de fun??o pulmonar e ent?o submetidos a eutan?sia para a realiza??o do lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) e retirada do tecido pulmonar, 24 horas ap?s o ?ltimo desafio intranasal. Foi avaliada a contagem total de c?lulas do LBA e quantifica??o de col?geno no homogeneizado de tecido pulmonar. Resultados: A defici?ncia de vitamina D n?o afetou a inflama??o induzida por HDM, que foi caracterizada por eosinofilia no LBA. A defici?ncia de vitamina D em qualquer fase da vida dos camundongos (in utero, p?s-natal e durante toda a vida) causou uma piora na fun??o pulmonar, aumentando o tissue damping e tissue elastance, sendo observado particularmente em f?meas. Por outro lado, a asma induzida por HDM diminuiu a distensibilidade das vias a?reas apenas em f?meas e a vitamina D n?o alterou essa resposta. Conclus?o: Nossos resultados sugerem que a vitamina D e HDM possuem diferentes mecanismos que influenciam no desenvolvimento da doen?a pulmonar al?rgica e, al?m disso, os efeitos parecem ser dependentes do sexo.

Les effets anti-allergiques des bactéries lactiques sont suggérés par plusieurs études épidémiologiques, des essais cliniques et des modèles expérimentaux d’allergie. Cependant, les propriétés immunomodulatrices des bactéries lactiques sont sous-exploitées par les stratégies vaccinales développées pour combattre l’allergie et les mécanismes empruntés par ces bactéries pour moduler l’allergie restent peu caractérisés. Dès lors, nous avons caractérisé les propriétés immunomodulatrices qu’exerce Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB8826, une bactérie lactique modèle, sur la cellule dendritique étant donné le rôle déterminant de cette cellule sur la réponse allergique. Nous montrons que L. plantarum induit une forte sécrétion d’IL-12 p40, d’IL-12 p70, de TNF-a mais une faible production d’IL-10. Cette faculté à induire la sécrétion de cytokines polarisantes dépend de TLR2, de TLR9, de MyD88, de NF-kB, des MAPKs (en particulier JNK, p38 et ERK 1/2), de la composition de l’acide lipotéichoïque de L. plantarum et de CD14. Nous montrons aussi que l’ADN génomique de L. plantarum est un agoniste de TLR9 et que CD14 et CD36 facilitent la liaison de la cellule dendritique avec L. plantarum. Ensuite, nous avons évalué le potentiel vaccinal d’une coadministration L. plantarum + Der p 1 dans un modèle murin d’allergie à Der p 1. Cette formulation vaccinale prévient la production d’IgE Der p 1-spécifique et atténue l’éosinophilie pulmonaire tout en stimulant une forte production d’anticorps IgG2a Der p 1-spécifiques et d’IFN-g par les cellules spléniques. Ces effets bénéfiques nous ont conduit à élaborer une bactérie lactique recombinante dérivée de L. plantarum produisant Der p 1 pour la vaccination contre l’allergie aux acariens. La forme antigénique que nous avons réussi à faire produire par L. plantarum correspond à une protéine de fusion entre la Maltose Binding Protein de E. coli et ProDer p 1 (le zymogène de Der p 1), la présence de ce partenaire de fusion étant indispensable à la production de ProDer p 1. En prophylaxie, la vaccination par cette bactérie recombinante prévient la production d’anticorps IgE-Der p 1-spécifiques et stimule la production d’anticorps IgG2a spécifiques, reproduisant les effets de la coadministration L. plantarum + Der p 1. Elle réduit de manière drastique la production d’IL-5 des cellules spléniques et des cellules ganglionnaires médiastinales et prévient l’éosinophilie pulmonaire mais n’a pas d’effet sur l’hyperréactivité bronchique. Der p 1 étant un des allergènes d’acarien les plus immunodominants, cet ensemble de données montre donc que cette bactérie recombinante constitue un vaccin prophylactique prometteur pour la prévention de l’allergie aux acariens. Des résultats préliminaires obtenus à partir de cellules dendritiques humaines et lymphocytes T autologues montrent la forte capacité de cette bactérie recombinante à induire le développement d’une réponse Th1 fortement polarisée (production d’IFN-g en l’absence de production d’IL-4 et d’IL-5), ce qui suggère que l’utilisation de cette bactérie recombinante pourrait être envisagée pour le traitement de l’allergie chez l’homme.

The major allergen Der p 1 of the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is a papain-like cysteine protease (CA1) associated to the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. This allergen is expressed as an inactive precursor, called proDer p 1, formed by a 25 kDa catalytic domain downstream to an 10 kDa N-terminal propeptide, which blocks the active site cleft. The propeptide of Der p 1 exhibits a specific fold, which makes it unique in the CA1 propeptide family as it is characterised by the presence of four alpha helices and the absence of ERFNIN motif. In this study, we investigated the activation steps involved in the maturation of recombinant proDer p 1 expressed in Pichia pastoris under acidic conditions and we studied the influence of acidic pH on the structure of both propeptide and catalytic domain. Therefore, we characterized the interaction between the propeptide and mature Der p 1 at different pH values in terms of activity inhibition, structural stability and proteolytic susceptibility. According to our results, the auto-activation of proDer p 1 is a multistep mechanism, characterized by at least two intermediates (ATFE- and SNGG-) corresponding to the loss of the first and second propeptide alpha helices, respectively. The propeptide strongly inhibits unglycosylated and glycosylated recombinant Der p 1 (KD= 7 nM) at neutral pH. This inhibition is pH dependent, decreasing from pH 7 to pH 4 and can be related to structural changes of the propeptide initiated by the protonation of the aspartate residue of Lys17-Asp51-Tyr19 structural triad presents within the propeptide N-terminal domain. This protonation triggers conformational changes of the first propeptide alpha helix leading to an increase of the propeptide flexibility, an increase of its proteolytic sensitivity and the formation of a molten globule state. In addition, we compare mature protease, zymogen and propeptide pH unfolding and stability and highlights that the presence of the propeptide does not influence the catalytic domain pH unfolding and stability as the propeptide displays a weaker pH stability than the protease domain. These results confirmed that the propeptide unfolding is the key event of the activation process. Finally, we unravel the intermolecular contribution of mature Der p 1 in the activation process and highlights that activation of the precursor can be achieved, under acidic conditions, by intermolecular process but initial auto-activation most probably occurs through an intramolecular process or by the proteolysis by the catalytic domain of another zymogen in which the propeptide is unfolded. According to our results, we proposed that activation of the zymogen at pH 4 reflects a compromise between activity preservation and propeptide unfolding and that the location of the activation sites on the propeptide structure is a compromise between sequence recognition specificity and proteolytic susceptibility of the corresponding area.

<p>Allergic asthma is a chronic and complex disease of the airways characterized by dysregulated immune-inflammatory responses to aeroallergens and reversible airflow obstruction. The prevalence and economic burden of allergic asthma have increased substantially over the last five decades. Despite remarkable progress in our understanding of the immunobiology and pathophysiology of asthma, the ontogeny of the disease remains elusive. As a result, there is a lack of effective preventative strategies. Here, we used a murine model of allergic asthma to house dust mite (HDM), the most pervasive indoor aeroallergen worldwide to address issues pertaining to the development of allergic asthma. First, we provided a comprehensive computational view of the impact of dose and length of HDM exposure on both local and systemic allergic outcomes (Chapter 2). Parameters, such as thresholds of responsiveness, and non-linear relationships between allergen exposure, allergic sensitization and airway inflammation were identified. We, then, investigated molecular signatures implicated in the onset of allergic responses (Chapter 3). HDM exposure was associated with production of the epithelial-associated cytokines TSLP, IL-25 and IL-33. However, only IL-33 signaling was necessary for intact Th2 immunity to HDM, likely because of its superior ability to induce the critical co-stimulatory molecule OX40L on dendritic cells and expand innate lymphoid cells. Lastly, as individuals are most likely exposed to allergens concomitantly to other environmental immunogenic agents, we studied the impact of an initial immune perturbation on allergic responses to sub-threshold amounts of HDM (Chapter 4). We showed that transient expression of GM-CSF in the airway substantially lowers the threshold of allergen required to generate robust, HDM-specific Th2 immunity, likely through increasing IL-33 production from alveolar type II cells. These studies favor a paradigm whereby distinct molecular pathways can elicit type 2 immunity, intimating the need to classify asthma into distinct clinical subsets.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Les maladies allergiques sont de plus en plus fréquentent. Elles atteignent souvent l’enfant jeune chez qui l’allergie respiratoire et l’allergie alimentaire sont les principales pathologies. L’unique traitement curatif est l’immunothérapie spécifique d’antigène (ITA), largement développée dans l’allergie respiratoire et encore à ses débuts dans l’allergie alimentaire. Pour adapter au mieux la prise en charge du patient, le diagnostic précis de l’allergie est indispensable et il n’existe actuellement pas d’examen biologique totalement fiable. Seul, la présence d’IgE spécifiques permet de diagnostiquer une sensibilisation à un allergène mais pas une allergie cliniquement symptomatique. Dans une première partie, nous avons étudié l’intérêt d’un test fonctionnel, l’ELISpot (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot), dans le diagnostic de l’allergie aux acariens chez l’enfant asthmatique. Le nombre de lymphocytes T circulants spécifiques d’acariens sécréteur d’interleukine (IL)-4 ou d’IL-13 était associé à la présence d’une allergie symptomatique, indépendamment des IgE spécifiques. Il était plus élevé dans le cas d’une rhinite allergique sévère et plus faible dans le cas d’une rhinite allergique légère. De plus, il variait au cours de l’année en fonction des saisons avec un pic en automne et un pic en début de printemps. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons étudié l’intérêt de l’ELISpot dans le diagnostic de l’allergie au lait de vache chez l’enfant, confirmée par un test de provocation orale en double aveugle. Nous avons décrit que le nombre de lymphocytes T spécifiques de la caséine et sécréteurs d’IL-4 et d’IL-13 était associé à l’allergie au lait de vache avec une sensibilité de 100%. Par ailleurs, le nombre de lymphocytes T spécifiques de la caséine était également associé à la dose maximale de lait tolérée par l’enfant.Enfin, dans une troisième partie, nous avons étudié la réponse lymphocytaire T au cours d’une ITA sub-linguale (SLIT) d’une part et sous-cutanée (SCIT) d’autre part, chez des enfants asthmatiques allergiques aux acariens suivis pendant une année. Nous avons décrit une diminution des lymphocytes Th2 (sécréteurs d’IL-4 et IL-13) spécifiques d’acariens après 12 mois de SLIT associée à une augmentation des cellules sécrétrices d’IL-10 (Tr1) spécifiques d’acariens après 6 mois de SLIT. De plus, les lymphocytes T régulateurs (CD4+CD25hiCD127loFoxp3+) étaient augmentés après 12 mois de SCIT. Nous n’avons pas retrouvé de production accrue d’interféron γ (IFNγ) par les lymphocytes T spécifiques d’acariens au cours de la désensibilisation.Au total, ce travail nous a permis de décrire qu’un test fonctionnel, l’ELISpot, permet de réaliser un diagnostic fiable de l’allergie aux acariens et de l’allergie au lait de vache chez l’enfant. Par ailleurs, l’ITA induit une diminution des cellules Th2 et une augmentation des cellules Tr1 par voie sub-linguale ainsi qu’une augmentation des Treg Foxp3+ par voie sous-cutanée sans immunodéviation Th2/Th1, chez l’enfant allergique aux acariens. / Allergic diseases are steadily increasing steadily and especially in children. Allergen specific immunotherapy (desensitization) is the only curative treatment for which accurate diagnosis of allergy is essential. Currently, the presence of specific IgE diagnoses a sensitization to an allergen but not a clinically symptomatic allergy. In a first part, we studied the value of a functional test, the ELISpot (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot) in the diagnosis of allergy to house dust mites (HDM). The number of circulating HDM-specific IL-4 and IL-13 secreting T cells was associated with the presence of symptoms, regardless of specific IgE and was higher in severe rhinitis than in mild rhinitis. In addition, it varied according to the season with a peak in autumn and a peak in early spring (wet periods with greater allergen exposure). In a second part, we studied the value of ELISpot for the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy in children, confirmed by double blind placebo control food challenge. We found that the number of casein-specific IL-4 and IL -13 secreting T-cells was associated with allergy to cow's milk. It was also inversely correlated to the cow’s milk tolerated cumulative dose. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of combined IL-4 and IL-13 analysis was generated. AUC was 0,98 (95% CI 0.90-1.06). For a cut-off of 10 IL-4- and 12 IL-13 secreting T-cells, sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100%.Finally, in the third part, we monitored antigen specific T-cell response in HDM allergic children treated with sublingual ITA (SLIT) on the one hand and subcutaneous ITA (SCIT) on the other hand, during one year. We found a decrease in HDM specific Th2 cells after 12 months of SLIT associated with an increase in HDM specific IL-10 secreting T-cells after 6 months of SLIT. In addition, regulatory T cells (CD4 + CD25hiCD127loFoxp3+) were increased after 12 months of SCIT. In conclusion, this work has allowed us to describe a functional test, the ELISpot, as a reliable tool for the diagnosis of mite allergy and cow's milk allergy in children. In addition, in HDM allergic children, a decrease of Th2 cells and an increase of IL-10 secreting T-cells was found in children treated with SLIT to HDM as well as an increase in Foxp3+ Treg in children treated with SCIT.