clair088

In a new series for the Journal, “ Allergy and clinical immunology around the world ,” Paul Potter, MD, describes sublingual immunotherapy practice in South Africa, which is based on recommendations put forth by the Allergy Society of South Africa [ J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132(1): 99-100 ].  Because of the long grass pollen season, approximately 8 months, seasonal rhinitis in the region is reclassified as persistent rhinitis, for which SLIT is indicated.  Potter notes that SLIT has been available for 15 years in South Africa.  European vaccines are employed for Bermuda/rye grass pollens and D. pteronyssinus/farinae for mite allergies.  Patients eligible for SLIT must be sensitive to only one allergen per the recommendations, though 80% of the patient population is allergic to multiple allergens.  The author reports that clinical trials for SLIT in South Africa have had variable outcome agreement, in spite of significant efficacy results.  A retrospecti...

While investigations of microRNAs [miRNA] and their role in transcription in disease have been growing for the last decade, more recently they have come under the scrutiny of immunologists searching for signs of miRNA dysregulation in allergic inflammation.  This month, Lu and Rothenberg review the evidence to-date and give us some very interesting news on miRNA in several atopic diseases [ J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132(1): 3-13 ]. Lu and Rothenberg start with a review of the general pathophysiology of miRNAs, which effect gene transcription networks by silencing posttranscriptional gene expression of mRNA.  One miRNA can modulate multiple genes and one gene may be targeted by many miRNAs.  miRNAs are also known to modify DNA methylation and histone acetylation, as well as interact with transcription factors.  The authors comment that miRNAs have been found in exosomes in cell-free body fluids, raising the intriguing possibility of their usefulness as peripheral b...