Biomedical subjects

Natalie Custis

Publications and source records attributed to Natalie Custis.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The effects of cage design on airborne allergens and endotoxin in animal rooms: high-volume measurements with an ion-charging device.

Respiratory symptoms related to both endotoxins and animal allergens continue to be an important cause of occupational disease for animal technicians and scientists working with rodents. Better sampling methods for airborne allergens and endotoxin are needed to help standardize compliance with federal occupational health regulations. Using an ion-charging device, we sampled 20 mouse rooms and four rat rooms at the University of Virginia, along with 43 domestic living rooms in houses in the Charlottesville area with at least one cat or dog. The use of filter tops on cages corresponds to a 50-fold reduction in mean levels of both airborne allergens (P < 0.001) and endotoxin (P < 0.001). The use of vented cages with filtered exhaust ports was associated with additional reductions. However, the mean airborne endotoxin level in all rooms using filter tops without a filtered exhaust port on the cages was significantly lower (P = 0.003) than the level in domestic living rooms. Our results for maximum airborne allergens or endotoxin are comparable with previous reports. However, the sensitivity of the technique allows an accurate assessment of low-level exposure, which makes it possible to evaluate the effect of cage designs. In addition, this approach allows direct comparison with results for airborne allergen and endotoxin in domestic homes. The results could allow a more consistent approach to the application of occupational health guidelines.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

PubMed2004

T cell epitope-specific defects in the immune response to cat allergen in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is often associated with high titer IgE antibodies (ab) to allergens, and IL-10-mediated regulation of IFN-gamma has been proposed to contribute to this IgE ab production. However, the relevance of IL-10 and IFN-gamma to IgE associated with AD has not been examined in the context of an allergen-specific system. Analysis of PBMC responses in vitro showed deficient T cell proliferation to overlapping IL-10- (peptide (P) 2:1) and IFN-gamma- (P2:2) inducing chain 2 major epitopes of cat allergen (Fel d 1) in cultures from sensitized AD patients (mean IgE to cat=20.9 IU/ml). Diminished IFN-gamma induction by Fel d 1 and P2:2, along with elevated peptide-induced IL-10 (except for P2:1) was observed in PBMC cultures from AD subjects compared with non-AD (sensitized and non-sensitized) subjects. Neither T cell proliferation nor IFN-gamma production to chain 2 epitopes could be restored by anti-IL-10 mAb in cultures from sensitized AD subjects. Moreover, allergen avoidance was associated with a paradoxical decrease in both IL-10 and IFN-gamma in peptide-stimulated PBMC from these subjects. Control of IFN-gamma production to chain 2 epitopes by IL-10 may be relevant to sensitization status. Development of high titer IgE ab in AD could reflect a failure of this mechanism.

Allergens↗

PubMed2003

Animal danders.

Animals release proteins into their surroundings through secretions, as excretions, or as dander. The quantity of dander that is dispersed by cats, dogs, or humans is sufficient to supply food for dust mites and to supply easily measurable quantities of proteins in dust. Fel d 1, Can f 1, and human IgA or IgG can be found in microgram quantities in dust samples. Allergens also can accumulate from the urine of wild or pet rodents. For cats and dogs, the accumulation of dander particles is not related to the cleanliness of the animals. All animals, including humans, provide a fully adequate supply of organic material for bacterial growth in a carpet, provided conditions are sufficiently humid. The authors' preliminary results in Virginia do not find a significant difference in endotoxin between homes with or without animals. The likely explanation for the nonallergic IgG and IgG4 response to cat, dog, or rat allergens is high exposure to proteins from these animals. If the highest levels of cat allergen in a home can result in immunologic tolerance, it is unlikely that primary avoidance would be successful at reducing exposure. The data showing that 80% of Swedish children with cat allergies never had lived with a cat imply that the concentrations of cat allergen in schools or in houses without a cat are sufficient to cause sensitization. Primary prevention would be possible only on a community basis, which is unlikely to occur. Sensitization to cat, rat, dog, or mouse allergens consistently is associated with asthma. In symptomatic children with positive skin test results, there is a strong case for allergen avoidance and a clear need for controlled trials. Controlled trials of avoidance should include houses without cats and schools. Controlling exposure to cat allergens with the cat in situ requires aggressive measures, such as removing reservoirs, washing the cat, and air cleaning. Many allergic or symptomatic children who live with a cat do not have positive skin test results or positive IgE antibodies to cats. Avoidance measures related to animals should be recommended only for individuals with positive skin test results. Increasing evidence shows that exposure to cats, dogs, rats, and other animals can induce a form of immunologic tolerance without causing allergic disease, and it is important to understand why this change occurs with dander allergens rather than with all allergens. The most probable explanations are related to the form and quantity of airborne allergens.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗