Laurence de Montjoye

Encapsulation of hydrophobic allergens into nanoparticles improves the in vitro immunological diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis

UNLABELLED The diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) relies on in vivo patch testing. In vitro immunological assays based on the characterization of circulating allergen-specific memory T cells represent a promising alternative to patch testing. However, their development is hampered by the technical challenge of assessing hydrophobic allergens in serum-based assays. In this study, we show that the encapsulation of fragrance mix 1 (FMI, a mixture of 8 hydrophobic allergens) into poly-ε-caprolactone nanoparticle (NP) vectors: (1) dramatically increases the solubilization of allergens in conventional cell culture media and (2) allows for a robust in vitro reactivation of allergen-specific T cells in large numbers of fragrance allergic patients. Therefore, the encapsulation of hydrophobic allergens into NP vectors opens new avenues to improve the in vitro immunobiological diagnosis of ACD. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) is a delayed-type hypersensivity reaction prevalent in many individuals. Currently, skin patch testing has been the mainstay for diagnosis clinically. In this study, the authors described an improvement to in vitro immunological assays measuring circulating allergen-specific memory T cells, using nanoparticle vectors. The positive data might provide an exciting alternative to current practice of patch-testing.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis involving the skin and the thymus.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplastic proliferation of dendritic cells resembling Langerhans cells, which can accumulate in various organs. Thymic involvement (TI) is rare, probably underestimated, and its management and prognosis are not well established. We report a 5-month-old male infant who presented with asymptomatic skin lesions on the scalp and trunk (figure 1A). Histology and immunohistochemistry of one of the trunk lesions showed a dermal and epidermal infiltration with [...]

Schnitzler syndrome associated with hairy cell leukemia presenting with chronic urticaria and arthralgias

CRP: C-reactive protein IL-1: interleukin-

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by medical devices for diabetes patients: A review

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by medical devices for diabetes patients has been increasingly described in the literature in the last few years. This article reviews the cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by insulin pumps and glucose sensors reported since the 1970s, the culprit allergen(s), the results of patch tests and/or chromatographic analysis, and preventive measures.