The Interaction Of LPS Pathway Genes With Pre-natal And Early Exposure To LPS And Allergens Predicts Atopy At Age One
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,263.00
Summary
The poor understanding of the cause of asthma has made prevention strategies unsuccessful. This study will provide valuable data for understanding the interactions between exposure to environmental stimuli and LPS pathway genes on the development of allergy and asthma in infants. As environmental modifications and dietary interventions during pregnancy are being investigated, the findings from the proposed study will be important in guiding prevention practices of allergic diseases.
Effects Of Allergens On Dendritic Cell Function In Allergic Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$254,250.00
Summary
In recent decades, there has been a nearly three-fold increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma. Although the reason these diseases have increased in prevalence remains unknown, we suspect the way in which the immune system responds to foreign proteins in the environment may be very important in determining whether an individual develops allergic disease or not. How and why individuals with allergic asthma respond excessively and inappropriately to inhalation of a small rang ....In recent decades, there has been a nearly three-fold increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma. Although the reason these diseases have increased in prevalence remains unknown, we suspect the way in which the immune system responds to foreign proteins in the environment may be very important in determining whether an individual develops allergic disease or not. How and why individuals with allergic asthma respond excessively and inappropriately to inhalation of a small range of seemingly innocuous proteins (allergens) is a central question in respiratory medicine and allergy. We propose that investigating the way that antigen presenting dendritic cells (DC) respond directly to allergens will shed important light on this issue, as DC are fundamental to our ability to deal with foreign antigens and to generate an appropriate immune response. The overall hypothesis underpinning this proposal is that allergens induce specific responses in DC from individuals with allergic asthma, and that this contributes to the maintenance and amplification of allergic tissue inflammation in this disease. Understanding the ways in which DC respond to clinically relevant allergens will lead to significant progress in understanding the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. This project was recommended for funding last year, but was relinquished when one of the previous co-investigators on last year's grant was awarded a Program grant.Read moreRead less
Identification Of Antigen Selection In The Human IgE Response By Analysis Of Somatic Point Mutations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$256,973.00
Summary
Allergic disease affects over 25% of the Australian community. It is responsible for significant sickness and death, particularly amongst children, and its incidence is on the increase. The reasons for this, and the underlying causes of allergic disease, remain unclear. Allergic disease results from the actions of molecules called IgE antibodies, which are also associated with parasitic infection. Even in these conditions, where IgE concentrations are raised in the blood, the concentrations are ....Allergic disease affects over 25% of the Australian community. It is responsible for significant sickness and death, particularly amongst children, and its incidence is on the increase. The reasons for this, and the underlying causes of allergic disease, remain unclear. Allergic disease results from the actions of molecules called IgE antibodies, which are also associated with parasitic infection. Even in these conditions, where IgE concentrations are raised in the blood, the concentrations are too low to allow their direct study. We have recently applied molecular biological techniques to study the genes that encode IgE antibodies. Our work suggests that the IgE response can sometimes develop in a different way to that of other antibodies (eg IgG). On the other hand, laboratory (in vitro) studies over many years support the possibility that IgE and IgG develop in parallel. In this study, we wish to identify circumstances in which IgG-like IgE antibodies develop. We therefore wish to study patients with different kinds of allergic disease, and patients with other conditions that are associated with IgE production. We therefore wish to study patients who have infections with parasitic worms. We deduce the processes that give rise to IgE antibodies by analysing patterns of mutations that accumulate in antibody genes during an immune response. Over recent years, we have developed new approaches to the analysis of such mutations, and this project also seeks to further develop our mutation analysis. This more powerful analysis will be applied to the study of mutations in the IgE genes seen in different patient groups, and should allow us to quantify the proportion of IgE antibodies that develop in each way. A better understanding of the relative contributions of the two pathways to IgE, in different conditions, will transform our understanding of the IgE response, and open up new avenues for the investigation of the causes and treatment of allergic disease.Read moreRead less