Showing papers by "Annika Scheynius published in 1998"
TL;DR: Early BCG vaccination in children with atopic heredity does not seem to affect the development of atopic disease before school age, and this is supported by a recent study of Swedish military conscript registers, where an increased atopy incidence was not demonstrated in the cohort bom the year after the general BCG vaccinations in Sweden was discontinued in 1975.
Abstract: In a Letter to the editor (Allergy, October 1997), Martinati & Boner (t) raised the question of whether the prevalence of atopy is increased in countries which have stopped their BCG vaccination campaign. We have recently studied this issue (2). In 1975, the general BCG vaccination, given to 95% of all neonates, was withdrawn in Sweden because of side-effects and the low risk of tuberculosis exposure. Currently, fewer than 4% of Swedish-bom children are BCG vaccinated: such vaccination is now mainly done because of contact with foreign countries, tuberculosis in close relatives, or parental request. At the same time, igEmediated allergy has increased, now affecting about every third child in Sweden (3). We performed a retrospective cohort study of children with atopic heredity, born in Stockholm in 198992, which included 216 children who received BCG vaccination before 6 months of age, and 358 agematched controls who had not been BCG vaccinated (2). A difference in atopy prevalence between the two groups could not be shown by clinical or serologic findings. In the vaccinated group, 12% had one or more positive skin prick tests, and 31% of the children had circulating allergen-specific IgE antibodies, whereas the corresponding figures in the control group were 10% and 27%, respectively. Risk factors for atopic disease were evenly distributed between the two groups. Thus, early BCG vaccination in children with atopic heredity does not seem to affect the development of atopic disease before school age (2). Our results are supported by a recent study of Swedish military conscript registers, where an increased atopy incidence was not demonstrated in the cohort bom the year after the general BCG vaccination in Sweden was discontinued in 1975 (4).
35 citations
TL;DR: The observed difference in free radical generating capacity between Ni( 2+) and Co(2+) is of interest with respect to the absence of cross-reactivity between the two metal-ions in experimental allergic contact dermatitis.
19 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that it is unlikely that free radicals are involved in contact allergy to Ni2+ and Co2+.
Abstract: A possible free radical mechanism in metal allergy was investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures from 6 subjects, contact allergic to Ni2+ and Co2+, and 6 control individuals. Ni2+ and Co(2+)-mediated free radical generation was studied with electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The immune response was characterized by cellular [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production Ni2+ and Co2+ (10-50 microM) significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma production in PBMC cultures from contact allergic subjects in comparison with cultures from controls. Inhibition of Co(2+)-mediated free radical generation by ascorbic acid did not influence cellular [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake and IFN production. Detectable amounts of free radicals were not obtained with Ni2+. We therefore conclude that it is unlikely that free radicals are involved in contact allergy to Ni2+ and Co2+.
16 citations
TL;DR: Experiments performed on unfixed epidermal sheets showed that HLA-DM is present on the cell surface of LC, suggesting that H LA-DM may interact with HLA -DR on the surface to induce peptide loading.
Abstract: The subcellular distribution patterns of molecules involved in the process of antigen loading [HLA-DR, HLA-DM, and the cytoplasmic and luminal parts of the invariant chain (Ii, CD74)] were investigated in Langerhans cells (LC), both qualitatively and quantitatively. The analysis was performed by immunofluorescence labelling of acetone-fixed vertical cryostat sections from normal human skin specimens and subsequent examination using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CSLM). The intensity-modulated multiple-wavelength scanning (IMS) technique was used to enhance channel separation when scanning dual-labelled specimens. The mean (n = 9) relative epidermal volumes of reactivity were: HLA-DR 8%+/-3%, HLA-DM 6%+/-2%, luminal Ii 6%+/-2%, and cytoplasmic Ii 4%+/-1%. The difference between HLA-DR and the other epitopes was significant at the P<0.001 level. All molecule combinations, except the combination of HLA-DM and luminal Ii (which was not studied), were to various extents colocalized. Experiments performed on unfixed epidermal sheets showed that HLA-DM is present on the cell surface of LC, suggesting that HLA-DM may interact with HLA-DR on the surface to induce peptide loading.
14 citations
TL;DR: The combined in vitro and in vivo results indicate that Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ are not able to antagonise the formation of Ni2- and Co2+ antigens.
Abstract: The potential antagonistic effects of Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ on contact allergy to Co2+ and Ni2+ were studied. The immune response was characterized by the Co2+ or Ni2+ mediated cellular [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures from 6 subjects contact-allergic to Co2+ and Ni2+ and 6 non-allergic control individuals. Results from the in vitro experiments were further evaluated with Co2+-sensitized guinea pigs according to the modified Freund's complete adjuvant test. Ni2+ and Co2+ (10-50 microM) significantly increased the lymphocyte proliferation in PBMC cultures from contact-allergic subjects in comparison with those from control individuals. Pretreatment of the PBMCs with Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+ (10-100 microM) or Mn2+ (1-10 microM) did not influence, while Zn2+ (100 microM) enhanced, and Cu2+ (5 and 10 microM) markedly reduced the Ni2+ and Co2+ mediated cellular [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake. The inhibition of the Ni2+- and Co2+-induced cell proliferation by Cu2+ in vitro was probably related to toxicity, since the viability of the cells was significantly reduced by applied combinations of Ni2+ or Co2+ with Cu2+. Topical pretreatment of Co2+-sensitized guinea pigs with maximum non-irritating doses of CuCl2 x 2H2O (0.8%) did not affect the challenge testing to CoCl2 x 6H2O (0.1 and 0.3%). In conclusion, our combined in vitro and in vivo results indicate that Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ are not able to antagonise the formation of Ni2+ and Co2+ antigens.
2 citations