Dynamics of cytokine mRNA expression and fecal biomarkers in school-children undergoing a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge series
CYTOKINE
Authors: Winberg, Anna; Nagaeva, Olga; Nagaev, Ivan; Lundell, Catarina; Arencibia, Ignacio; Mincheva-Nilsson, Lucia; Ronmark, Eva; West, Christina E.
Abstract
Background: There is need for prognostic markers for symptomatic food allergy since current diagnostic methods are insufficient and/or time and labor consuming. Objective: To estimate the cytokine mRNA profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge series in schoolchildren with suspected allergy to milk, egg or cod and in healthy controls. Analyses of fecal inflammatory biomarkers before and after the challenge were included. Methods: Twelve-year-old children from a population-based cohort reporting complete avoidance of milk, egg, cod or wheat due to perceived hypersensitivity were clinically examined and those with suspected food allergy were evaluated with a 3-session double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (n = 18). Seven healthy controls participated in a double-blind challenge with egg. Before and after the challenge series, the cytokine mRNA expression was quantified for 13 cytokines discriminating between humoral Th2-, cytotoxic Thl-, regulatory Th3/Tr1- and inflammatory responses. Fecal calprotectin and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) were also analyzed in children with suspected food allergy before and after the challenge series. Results: Pre challenge, children with suspected food allergy had higher IL-13 and TNF-alpha expression and lower IFN-gamma and IL-15 expression compared to healthy controls (all p < 0.05). Children with challenge proven food allergy had increased IL13 and IL-10 expression compared to the levels seen in negative challenges (p < 0.05). Post challenge, IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA levels were elevated in the food allergic children compared to controls (p < 0.05). Fecal calprotectin and EDN levels were higher in challenge-proven food allergy compared to a negative challenge although not statistically significantly. Conclusion & clinical relevance: Increased baseline mRNA levels of the Th2-related cytokine IL-13 and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 predicted a positive food challenge outcome. These cytokines in combination with fecal calprotectin and EDN might serve as future prognostic markers for symptomatic, IgEmediated food allergy but need further validation in a larger patient cohort. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Interleukin 12B rs3212227 T > G polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma in a Chinese population
DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS
Authors: Yin, J.; Wang, X.; Wei, J.; Wang, L.; Shi, Y.; Zheng, L.; Tang, W.; Ding, G.; Liu, C.; Liu, R.; Chen, S.; Xu, Z.; Gu, H.
Abstract
Gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA) is one of common malignant tumors in the world. Multiple genes that play critical roles in inflammatory pathways probably are associated with GCA risk. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to evaluate the genetic effects of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): interleukin 9 (IL9) rs31563 C>T, IL9 rs31564 G>T, IL10 rs1800872 T>G, IL12A rs2243115 T>G, IL12B rs3212227 T>G, and IL13 rs1800925 C>T on the development of GCA. Two hundred and forty-three GCA cases and 476 controls were recruited. Their genotypes were determined using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan kit. IL12B rs3212227 T>G polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of GCA. However, there was no significant association between the other five SNPs and GCA risk. Stratified analyses indicated that the risk of GCA associated with the IL12B rs3212227 T>G polymorphism was evident among female patients and patients who never smoked or consumed alcoholic drinks. These findings indicated that functional polymorphism IL12B rs3212227 T>G might correlate with GCA risk. However, our results were obtained with a limited sample size; the power of our analysis was low. Larger studies are required to confirm the current findings.