scholarly journals Digital Immune Gene Expression Profiling Discriminates Allergic Rhinitis Responders from Non-Responders to Probiotic Supplementation

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 889 ◽  
Author(s):  
West ◽  
Watts ◽  
Smith ◽  
Zhang ◽  
Besseling-van der Vaart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Probiotic Supplementation ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Immune Gene Expression

Probiotic supplementation for eight weeks with a multi-strain probiotic by individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR) reduced overall symptom severity, the frequency of medication use and improved quality of life. The purported mechanism of action is modulation of the immune system. This analysis examined changes in systemic and mucosal immune gene expression in a subgroup of individuals, classified as either responders or non-responders based on improvement of AR symptoms in response to the probiotic supplement. Based on established criteria of a beneficial change in the mini-rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (mRQLQ), individuals with AR were classified as either responders or non-responders. Systemic and mucosal immune gene expression was assessed using nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling (Nanostring Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA) kit on blood samples and a nasal lysate. There were 414 immune genes in the blood and 312 immune genes in the mucosal samples expressed above the background threshold. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of immune genes separated responders from non-responders in blood and mucosal samples at baseline and after supplementation, with key T-cell immune genes differentially expressed between the groups. Striking differences in biological processes and pathways were evident in nasal mucosa but not blood in responders compared to non-responders. These findings support the use of network approaches to understand probiotic-induced changes to the immune system.

scholarly journals Intraspecific variation in immune gene expression and heritable symbiont density

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. e1009552
Author(s):  
Holly L. Nichols ◽  
Elliott B. Goldstein ◽  
Omid Saleh Ziabari ◽  
Benjamin J. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
F1 Hybrids ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Immune Mechanisms ◽  
Immune Gene Expression ◽  
Host Microbe Interactions ◽  
And Function

Host genetic variation plays an important role in the structure and function of heritable microbial communities. Recent studies have shown that insects use immune mechanisms to regulate heritable symbionts. Here we test the hypothesis that variation in symbiont density among hosts is linked to intraspecific differences in the immune response to harboring symbionts. We show that pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) harboring the bacterial endosymbiontRegiella insecticola(but not all other species of symbionts) downregulate expression of key immune genes. We then functionally link immune expression with symbiont density using RNAi. The pea aphid species complex is comprised of multiple reproductively-isolated host plant-adapted populations. These ‘biotypes’ have distinct patterns of symbiont infections: for example, aphids from theTrifoliumbiotype are strongly associated withRegiella. Using RNAseq, we compare patterns of gene expression in response toRegiellain aphid genotypes from multiple biotypes, and we show thatTrifoliumaphids experience no downregulation of immune gene expression while hostingRegiellaand harbor symbionts at lower densities. Using F1 hybrids between two biotypes, we find that symbiont density and immune gene expression are both intermediate in hybrids. We propose that in this system,Regiellasymbionts are suppressing aphid immune mechanisms to increase their density, but that some hosts have adapted to prevent immune suppression in order to control symbiont numbers. This work therefore suggests that antagonistic coevolution can play a role in host-microbe interactions even when symbionts are transmitted vertically and provide a clear benefit to their hosts. The specific immune mechanisms that we find are downregulated in the presence ofRegiellahave been previously shown to combat pathogens in aphids, and thus this work also highlights the immune system’s complex dual role in interacting with both beneficial and harmful microbes.

scholarly journals Effects of a probiotic treatment (Enterococcus faecalis) and open-label placebo on symptoms of allergic rhinitis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e031339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schaefer ◽  
Paul Enck
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Probiotic Treatment ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionSeveral studies suggest that gut microbiota may play an important role in allergic diseases. The present trial aims to examine effects of the probioticEnterococcus faecalison symptoms of allergic rhinitis in patients. Effects of this probiotic on the immune system have been reported by several studies, but the majority of the previous trials were animal studies. In addition, it is well known that symptoms in allergic rhinitis are prone to exhibit high placebo responses. Moreover, recent studies report that even placebos without deception (open-label placebos) are highly effective in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Our study design combines both new approaches to assess effects on allergic symptoms in patients. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of a probiotic treatment (E. faecalis) with effects seen by open-label placebo, concealed placebo treatment and no treatment control.Methods and analysisA total of 120 patients with allergic rhinitis will be randomly assigned to one of four different groups: a double-blind probiotic/placebo group (groups 1 and 2), an open-label placebo group (group 3) and a no-treatment group (group 4) to control for spontaneous variation of symptoms. The primary outcome is the evaluation of allergic symptoms using the Combined Symptoms Medication Score. Furthermore, health-related quality of life is examined (Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire). Secondary outcomes include a visual analogue scale on allergic burden and a second quality of life questionnaire. This report describes the study design of the randomised controlled trial.Ethics and disseminationThe study design was approved by the ethical committee of the UKT Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Tübingen, Germany. The trial is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de, DRKS00015804). The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.Trial registration numberGerman Clinical Trials Register (www.drks.de, DRKS00015804); Pre-results.

scholarly journals Hyeonggaeyeongyo-Tang for Treatment of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: A Prospective, Nonrandomized, Pre-Post Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Hee Kim ◽  
Jaewoong Son ◽  
Hae Jeong Nam ◽  
Seong-Gyu Ko ◽  
Inhwa Choi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Nonallergic Rhinitis ◽  
Prick Test ◽  
Chronic Rhinitis ◽  
Nasal Symptoms ◽  
Significant Difference

Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (HYT) is an ancient formula of oriental medicine traditionally used to treat rhinitis; however, clinical evidence has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of HYT for chronic rhinitis. Adult subjects with chronic rhinitis symptoms were recruited. The subjects received HYT for 4 weeks and had follow-up period of 8 weeks. Any medicines used to treat nasal symptoms were not permitted during the study. The skin prick test was performed to distinguish the subjects with allergic rhinitis from those with nonallergic rhinitis. After treatment, the total nasal symptoms score and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score significantly improved in the whole subject group, in the allergic rhinitis group, and in the nonallergic rhinitis group, with no adverse events. This improvement lasted during a follow-up period of 8 weeks. Total IgE and eosinophil levels showed no significant difference after treatment in the allergic rhinitis group. HYT improved nasal symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis. This is the first clinical study to evaluate the use of HYT to treat patients with rhinitis. This trial has been registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT02477293.

scholarly journals Correlation of Serumβ-Endorphin and the Quality of Life in Allergic Rhinitis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Jichao Sha ◽  
Cuida Meng ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Na Cui ◽  
Qian Xiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Specific Ige ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Immunoblot Assay ◽  
Total Ige ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire

Background.Allergic rhinitis (AR) significantly impairs the quality of life of the patients; however, a questionnaire alone is an insufficient and subjective measure of this condition. Obtaining an objective clinical assessment of the level of impairment will be valuable for its treatment.β-Endorphin is one of the most important mediators of both mental state and specific immunity. Thus, we investigated the possibility of usingβ-endorphin as a biomarker for evaluating the impairment level in AR.Methods.This study included 48 patients with AR and 32 healthy volunteers. The serumβ-endorphin level was determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the serum-specific IgE and total IgE levels were determined by immunoblot assay. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to assess the impairment level in the symptom duration.Results.Theβ-endorphin concentration was significantly decreased in AR patients compared to the healthy controls (p=0.000,p<0.05). There was significant negative correlation between the impairment level and serumβ-endorphin level (correlation coefficient:-0.468;p=0.001;p<0.05), but there was no association between the serumβ-endorphin and total IgE levels (p=0.947,p>0.05).Conclusion.β-Endorphin is a systemic biomarker that has the potential to assess the impairment level in AR and may therefore be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of AR.

A Prospective Study of Outcomes of Septoplasty with Turbinate Reductions in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 160 (6) ◽  
pp. 1118-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant S. Gillman ◽  
Giuseppe V. Staltari ◽  
Yue-Fang Chang ◽  
Jose L. Mattos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Nasal Obstruction ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Inferior Turbinate ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
A Prospective Study

Objective Examine outcomes of septoplasty with turbinate reductions in patients with allergic rhinitis as compared to patients without allergic rhinitis using validated outcome and quality-of-life (QOL) instruments. Study Design Prospective observational cohort study. Setting Single surgeon, university hospital. Subjects and Methods Consecutive study-eligible patients with a symptomatic nasal septal deviation, with (n = 30) or without (n = 30) documented allergic rhinitis, were enrolled from March 2014 to February 2017. All patients subsequently underwent nasal septoplasty and inferior turbinate reductions. Outcomes were studied using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, mini–Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini-RQLQ), and Ease-of-Breathing (EOB) Likert scores completed preoperatively and, together with a patient satisfaction Likert, at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results NOSE scores, EOB scores, and mini-RQLQ scores improved significantly in both groups at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results were sustained from 3 to 6 months. Although mini-RQLQ scores in allergic patients were higher at all intervals, the magnitude of change in scores in both groups was comparable. Conclusion Although patients with allergic rhinitis report greater allergy-related QOL impairment (mini-RQLQ) on a day-to-day basis than nonallergic patients, this does not appear to attenuate the benefit they might experience from septoplasty and turbinate reductions when indicated for nasal obstruction. Furthermore, the symptomatic relief of their structural nasal obstruction appears to significantly improve their overall allergy-related quality of life. If appropriate expectations are set pre-operatively, allergic rhinitis is neither a contraindication nor a deterrent to septoplasty and turbinate reductions and these patients can reasonably expect a high degree of satisfaction post-operatively.

Expression of immune genes and a signature of PD-1 inhibition resistance in basal-like pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) subtypes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 277-277
Author(s):  
Ranjit Joseph ◽  
Kyla Collins ◽  
Dante S. Bortone ◽  
Benjamin Garrett Vincent ◽  
Jen Jen Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Subtypes ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Molecular Subtype ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Recurrence Rates ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Immune Gene Expression

277 Background: PDAC is a lethal disease with poor survival even when detected at an early stage. Recurrence rates after surgical resection remain high. Recently, two distinct molecular subtypes of PDAC (basal-like and classical) have been identified with basal-like tumors demonstrating inferior outcomes. We hypothesize that differences in tumor immunogenicity may contribute to this aggressive biology and predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples of 60 resected PDAC patients. We evaluated previously published immune gene expression signatures comprised of 1400 genes and used a single sample classifier to determine molecular subtypes. Results: Table 1 summarizes patient characteristics in our cohort. There were 35 classical and 25 basal-like tumors. PFS was significantly shorter in patients with basal-like compared to classical subtypes (9 vs 15 mo, p = 0.006). In a multivariable model with molecular subtype, lymph node and margin status, subtype was the only independent predictor of PFS (p=0.028). Unsupervised clustering identified two distinct immune groups that were associated with molecular subtypes (p=0.038) with higher expression of immune genes in basal-like tumors. Basal-like tumors were significantly associated with an immunosuppressive signature (p<0.001) and a signature associated with non-response to PD-1 inhibition in melanoma (p=0.001). Conclusions: This is the first study to show that basal-like pancreatic cancers are associated with increased immune gene expression and may help explain their inferior prognosis. We hypothesize that this reflects an increase in immunosuppressive cells in basal-like tumors that may predict decreased response to immune check point inhibitors. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals The impact of allergic rhinitis on symptoms, and quality of life using the new criterion of ARIA severity classification

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
Antonio Valero ◽  
Rosa Munoz-Cano ◽  
Joaquin Sastre ◽  
Ana M. Navarro ◽  
Enrique Marti-Guadano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Nasal Symptoms ◽  
Severity Classification ◽  
New Criterion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Severity Criterion

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease with major socieconomic burden and a significant impact on quality of life. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the impact of AR severity, using the modified ARIA (m-ARIA) severity criterion in order to discriminate among moderate and severe AR, in symptoms and quality of life assessed with the questionnaire ESPRINT-15. Methods: The specific quality of life questionnaire (ESPRINT-15) was applied in over thousand untreated RA patients. Severity was evaluated by the m-ARIA classification, which categorizes AR as mild, moderate, and severe. Nasal symptoms were evaluated by using categorized (none, low, middle, and high) Total Four Symptom Score (T4SS). Results: Using the m-ARIA severity classification, significant differences in quality of life, both global score and specific domains, and categorized T4SS were found among the AR severity groups. Conclusion: Modified ARIA severity classification in mild, moderate, and severe allergic rhinitis clearly discriminates the impact of AR in all domains of quality of life and categorized symptom`s score.

scholarly journals The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chauncy Hinshaw ◽  
Kathleen C. Evans ◽  
Cristina Rosa ◽  
Margarita M. López-Uribe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Immune Gene Expression ◽  
Pathogen Dynamics ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Overwintering Survival ◽  
Bee Colonies

Studies of the ecoimmunology of feral organisms can provide valuable insight into how host–pathogen dynamics change as organisms transition from human-managed conditions back into the wild. Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) offer an ideal system to investigate these questions as colonies of these social insects often escape management and establish in the wild. While managed honey bee colonies have low probability of survival in the absence of disease treatments, feral colonies commonly survive in the wild, where pathogen pressures are expected to be higher due to the absence of disease treatments. Here, we investigate the role of pathogen infections [Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Nosema ceranae] and immune gene expression (defensin-1, hymenoptaecin, pgrp-lc, pgrp-s2, argonaute-2, vago) in the survival of feral and managed honey bee colonies. We surveyed a total of 25 pairs of feral and managed colonies over a 2-year period (2017–2018), recorded overwintering survival, and measured pathogen levels and immune gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results showed that feral colonies had higher levels of DWV but it was variable over time compared to managed colonies. Higher pathogen levels were associated with increased immune gene expression, with feral colonies showing higher expression in five out of the six examined immune genes for at least one sampling period. Further analysis revealed that differential expression of the genes hymenoptaecin and vago increased the odds of overwintering survival in managed and feral colonies. Our results revealed that feral colonies express immune genes at higher levels in response to high pathogen burdens, providing evidence for the role of feralization in altering pathogen landscapes and host immune responses.

Health status in allergic rhinitis

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-685
Author(s):  
Jacquelynne P. Corey ◽  
Bryan J. Kemker ◽  
Joseph T. Branca ◽  
Felicia Kuo ◽  
Yuchiao Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
General Health ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Chronic Sinusitis ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Early Improvement ◽  
Health Measures

Although valid and reliable instruments exist to measure the quality of life of allergic rhinitis patients, a statistically sensitive and clinically meaningful way to evaluate patients undergoing immunotherapy has not been reported. A 21-site prospective, observational study was performed in a population of consecutive patients with allergic rhinitis. Baseline general health measures revealed significant ( P < 0.05) decrements from reported normative levels in 8 domains for patients choosing to undergo immunotherapy and 5 domains for patients choosing not to undergo immunotherapy. The General Health Survey was less sensitive in detecting change than the Nasal Health Survey (Chronic Sinusitis Survey) and allergy-specific (Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Allergy Outcome Survey) surveys. Severity of symptoms was associated with both the likelihood to choose immunotherapy and the likelihood for early improvement. We conclude that general and conditionspecific measures can be used to observe patients after immunotherapy; however, obtaining baseline data and controlling for seasonality are important considerations.

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