V. del Pozo

Noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in occupational settings

To cite this article: Quirce S, Lemière C, de Blay F, del Pozo V, Gerth Van Wijk R, Maestrelli P, Pauli G, Pignatti P, Raulf‐Heimsoth M, Sastre J, Storaas T, Moscato G. Noninvasive methods for assessment of airway inflammation in occupational settings. Allergy 2010; 65: 445–458.

Cloning and expression of a major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen, Cup a 3, a PR‐5 protein expressed under polluted environment

Background:  This paper describes the cloning and expression of the Cupressus arizonica pollen protein Cup a 3. In addition, we present its modulation under polluted environmental conditions. Species of the Cupressaceae family are important because of their high sensitization prevalence.

Tropomyosin IgE-positive results are a good predictor of shrimp allergy.

To cite this article: Gámez C, Sánchez‐García S, Ibáñez MD, López R, Aguado E, López E, Sastre B, Sastre J, del Pozo V. Tropomyosin IgE‐positive results are a good predictor of shrimp allergy. Allergy 2011; 66: 1375–1383.

Molecular cloning of major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen: Cup a 1

The family Cupressaceae is a relevant source of allergens that causes winter respiratory allergies. Cloning and sequencing the major antigen of Cupressus arizonica is important for a better diagnosis and treatment of sensitized patients.

Recombinant lipid transfer protein Tri a 14: a novel heat and proteolytic resistant tool for the diagnosis of baker's asthma

Background Bakers asthma is an important occupational allergic disease. Wheat lipid transfer protein (LTP) Tri a 14 is a major allergen associated with wheat allergy. No panel of wheat recombinant allergens for component‐resolved diagnosis of bakers asthma is currently available.

Increased prostaglandin E2 levels in the airway of patients with eosinophilic bronchitis

Background:  Eosinophilic bronchitis is a common cause of chronic cough, which like asthma is characterized by sputum eosinophilia, but unlike asthma there is no variable airflow obstruction or airway hyperresponsiveness. We tested the hypothesis that the different airway function in patients with eosinophilic bronchitis and asthma could be caused by an imbalance in the production of bronchoconstrictor (LTC4) and bronchoprotective (prostaglandin E2; PGE2) lipid mediators.

Sputum periostin in patients with different severe asthma phenotypes

Identifying inflammatory phenotypes is relevant in severe uncontrolled asthma. The aim of this study was to identify the different clinical, inflammatory, functional, and molecular phenotypes in patients with severe asthma and to investigate the potential role of sputum periostin as a biomarker of severe asthma phenotypes.

Allergy to olive pollen : T-cell response from olive allergic patients is restricted by DR7-DQ2 antigens

Backgound We have recently described the association between the IgE antibody response to Ole e I (the major antigen from olive tree pollen) and the DR7‐DQ2 haplotype in a Spanish population.

Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by eugenol in a hairdresser.

Eugenol (C10H12O2) and its isomer isoeugenol are well-known skin sensitizers giving rise to allergic contact dermatitis (1) and acute urticaria (2). These fragrance chemicals, however, have not been previously described as a causative agent of occupational asthma (OA). We report the case of a 30-year-old hairdresser, a nonsmoker. In the last year he had developed eczema on his hands and he had suffered from nasal stuffiness and rhinorrhea. Over the last 6 months at work he had also developed episodes of chest tightness, dry cough and shortness of breath upon exposure to perfumes and lacquer. His asthma symptoms worsened progressively and he was treated in the emergency room because of severe asthma attacks on three occasions. He showed a marked improvement away from work. When he was examined in our outpatient clinic he had been on a sick leave for 6 months. At that time spiromety was normal. Blood tests and leukocyte differential count (102 eosinophils/mm) were within normal limits. Total serum IgE was 168 kU/l. Patch testing with European standard series showed positive results to cobalt chloride, potassium dichromate, fragrance mix and isoeugenol (+). Skin prick testing was performed with common aeroallergens, latex and eugenol 2% w/v and all yielded negative results. Specific inhalation challenge (SIC) with eugenol was performed by a 2 min nebulization of the corresponding eugenol dilution in a 7 m challenge chamber (3, 4). Sputum was induced by hypertonic saline inhalation and processed as previously described (4). Sputum samples were analyzed using FC scan cytometry (FACSCalibur flow cytometer; Becton Dickinson, San José, CA, USA). At baseline (visit 1), PC20 methacholine was negative (PC20 > 16 mg/ml). On visit 2 (sham exposure) no significant changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were observed over the following 24 h. On visit 3, SIC with eugenol at a dilution of 1/10 000 for 2 min elicited no reaction. On visit 4, the eugenol challenge at 1/1000 elicited rhinitis symptoms and an isolated late asthmatic response. An increase in sputum eosinophils and lymphocytes were observed 24 h after eugenol SIC (Table 1), and methacholine inhalation test became positive (PC20 2 mg/ml). A hairdresser diagnosed with OA caused by persulfates (control subject) underwent the same challenge protocol with eugenol and no relevant changes in FEV1 or PC20 methacholine were observed. Proliferation tests of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient and the control subject were performed by MTS assays (Promega Corp., Madison, WI, USA) with different eugenol dilutions in RPMI-1640 completed with 10% FBS. A striking different in the eugenolinduced proliferation was observed in the patient (15 times higher) as compared to the control subject with the eugenol 1/1000 dilution, whereas no significant difference was observed in the eugenolinduced proliferation between the patient and the control subject at the 1/100 and 1/10 000 dilutions. Baur et al. (5) reported a 44-year-old woman, employed for 26 years in a drugstore, who developed asthma symptoms while presenting customers with various perfume brands. Workplace-related specific challenges with nine different brands of perfumes as well as SIC with one individual perfume in this patient resulted in increased nasal airflow resistance and in significant bronchial obstruction (5). Although the major agents involved in OA and rhinitis in A L L E R G Y 2 0 0 8 : 6 3 : 1 3 7 – 1 4 1 • a 2 0 0 8 T H E A U T H O R S • J O U R N A L C O M P I L AT I O N a 2 0 0 8 B L A C K W E L L M U N K S G A A R D • C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O T H I S S E C T I O N W I L L N O T U N D E R G O P E E R R E V I E W, B U T W I L L B E R E V I E W E D B Y T H E A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R S •

Allergenicity and cross‐reactivity of Senecio pollen: identification of novel allergens using the immunoproteomics approach

Background The genus Senecio is the largest genus of the family Asteraceae (Compositae).