Project description:Investigation of the gene expression changes associated with TLR2 adjuvant (lipoteichoic acid; LTA) inhibition of allergic TH2 responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures (derived from house dust mite allergic individuals) stimulated with house dust mite extract.
Project description:CD4 T cells are essential mediators of the asthmatic process. We used the clinically relevant allergen house dust mites to induce signs of allergy in mice and performed gene expression arrays specifically on CD4 T cells infiltrating the lung Reference: IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells promote type 2 immunity to house dust mites Primary CD4+ T cells were isolated from mice sensitised and challenged to either house dust mites or PBS. Purification of CD4 T cells was performed by flow cytometry. RNA was isolated, converted to cDNA and then hybridised on Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Gene 2.0 ST Arrays
Project description:CD4 T cells are essential mediators of the asthmatic process. We used the clinically relevant allergen house dust mites to induce signs of allergy in mice and performed gene expression arrays specifically on CD4 T cells infiltrating the lung Reference: IL-21-producing CD4+ T cells promote type 2 immunity to house dust mites
Project description:Investigation of the gene expression changes associated with TLR2 adjuvant (lipoteichoic acid; LTA) inhibition of allergic TH2 responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures (derived from house dust mite allergic individuals) stimulated with house dust mite extract. Pooled samples from 5 individuals were analysed by microarray; qPCR validation was carried out in a larger cohort of 23 individuals.
Project description:Response to allergen was studied in bronchial epithelial cell line H292. Cells were cultured and subsequently exposed to House dust mite or vessel (saline); Microarray data was analysed using bioinformatics and biostastics. We find a strong response to allergen in epithelial cells Experiment Overall Design: Bronchial epithelial cell line was cultured and stimulated with house dust mite extract or diluent alone. Both conditions were performed in triplicate
Project description:Exposure to dogs in early infancy has been shown to reduce the risk of childhood allergic disease development and dog-ownership is associated with a distinct house dust microbial exposure. Here we demonstrate, using murine models, that exposure of mice toM-BM- dog-associated house dust protects against ovalbumin or cockroach allergen mediated airway pathology. Protected animals exhibited significant reductions in the total number of airway T cells, down-regulation of Th2-related airway responses as well as mucin secretion. Following house dust exposure, the cecal microbiome of protected animals was extensively restructured with significant enrichment of, amongst others, Lactobacillus johnsonii. Supplementation of wild type animals with L. johnsonii protected them against both airway allergen challenge or infection with respiratory syncytial virus. L. johnsonii mediated protection wasM-BM- associated with significant reductions in the total number and proportion of activated CD11c+/CD11b+ and CD11c+/CD8+ cells, as well as significantly reduced airway Th2 cytokine expression. Our results reveal that exposure to dog-associated household dust results in protection against airway allergen challenge and a distinct GI microbiome composition. Moreover the study identifies L. johnsonii as a pivotal species within the gastrointestinal tract capable of influencing adaptive immunity at remote mucosal surfaces in a manner that is protective against a variety of respiratory insults. The G2 PhyloChip microarray platform (commercially available from Second Genome, Inc.) was used to profile cecal gut bacteria from 29 mice: 7 controls, 5 gavaged with dust from homes with pets, 5 gavaged with dust from homes with no pets, 4 CRA-challenged, 4 gavaged with L. johnsonii, and 4 gavaged with L. johnsonii prior to CRA challenge. The PhyloChip was also used to profile 1 house dust sample collected from a home with dogs