{"title":"Executive summary: Japanese guidelines for atopic dermatitis (ADGL) 2024","authors":"Hidehisa Saeki , Yukihiro Ohya , Hirokazu Arakawa , Susumu Ichiyama , Toshio Katsunuma , Norito Katoh , Akio Tanaka , Hideaki Tanizaki , Yuichiro Tsunemi , Takeshi Nakahara , Mizuho Nagao , Masami Narita , Michihiro Hide , Takao Fujisawa , Masaki Futamura , Koji Masuda , Tomoyo Matsubara , Hiroyuki Murota , Kiwako Yamamoto-Hanada , Junichi Furuta","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2025.01.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2025.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This is an abridged edition of English version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2024. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. A crucial aspect of AD treatment is the prompt induction of remission via the suppression of existing skin inflammation and pruritus. To achieve this, topical anti-inflammatory drugs such as topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus ointment, delgocitinib ointment, and difamilast ointment have been used. However, the following treatments should be considered in addition to topical therapy for patients with refractory moderate-to-severe AD: oral cyclosporine, subcutaneous injections of biologics (dupilumab, nemolizumab, tralokinumab), oral Janus kinase inhibitors (baricitinib, upadacitinib, abrocitinib), and phototherapy. In the revised guidelines, descriptions of five new drugs, namely, difamilast, nemolizumab, tralokinumab, upadacitinib, and abrocitinib, have been added. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 2","pages":"Pages 210-221"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143477217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The gut–organ axis: Clinical aspects and immune mechanisms","authors":"Naoto Fukasawa , Junya Tsunoda , Shogo Sunaga , Hiroki Kiyohara , Nobuhiro Nakamoto , Toshiaki Teratani , Yohei Mikami , Takanori Kanai","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut-brain axis exemplifies the bidirectional connection between the intestines and the brain, as evidenced by the impact of severe stress on gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea, and conversely, the influence of abdominal discomfort on mood. Clinical observations support the notion of the gut–brain connection, including an increased prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with depression and anxiety, as well as the association of changes in the gut microbiota with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The gut and brain communicate via complex mechanisms involving inflammatory cytokines, immune cells, autonomic nerves, and gut microbiota, which contribute to the pathogenesis in certain gut and brain diseases. Two primary pathways mediate the bidirectional information exchange between the intestinal tract and the brain: signal transduction through bloodstream factors, such as bacterial metabolites and inflammatory cytokines, and neural pathways, such as neurotransmitters and inflammatory cytokines within the autonomic nervous system through the interaction between the nerve cells and beyond. In recent years, the basic mechanisms of the pathophysiology of the gut-brain axis have been gradually elucidated. Beyond the gut-brain interaction, emerging evidence suggests the influence of the gut extends to other organs, such as the liver and lungs, through intricate inter-organ communication pathways. An increasing number of reports on this clinical and basic cross-organ interactions underscore the potential for better understanding and novel therapeutic strategies targeting inter-organs networks. Further clarification of interactions between multiorgans premises transformative insights into cross-organ therapeutic strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 2","pages":"Pages 197-209"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143469732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Songhui Kim , Cebile Ndwandwe , Hannah Devotta , Lamiah Kareem , Lu Yao , Liam O’Mahony
{"title":"Role of the microbiome in regulation of the immune system","authors":"Songhui Kim , Cebile Ndwandwe , Hannah Devotta , Lamiah Kareem , Lu Yao , Liam O’Mahony","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Immune health and metabolic functions are intimately connected via diet and the microbiota. Immune cells are continuously exposed to a wide range of microbes and microbial-derived compounds, with important mucosal and systemic ramifications. Microbial fermentation of dietary components <em>in vivo</em> generates thousands of molecules, some of which are integral components of the molecular circuitry that regulates immune and metabolic functions. These in turn protect against aberrant inflammatory or hyper-reactive processes and promote effector immune responses that quickly eliminate pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2. Potent tolerance mechanisms should ensure that these immune cells do not over-react to non-pathogenic factors (e.g. food proteins), while maintaining the ability to respond to infectious challenges in a robust, effective and well controlled manner. In this review we examine the factors and mechanisms that shape microbiota composition and interactions with the host immune system, their associations with immune mediated disorders and strategies for intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 2","pages":"Pages 187-196"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143425776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Efficacy and safety of systemic targeted therapies for atopic dermatitis in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Norio Kawamoto , Hiroki Murai , Kazutaka Nogami , Takeshi Yamamoto , Tomonobu Kikkawa , Motoko Yasutomi-Sakai , Kiwako Yamamoto-Hanada , Masaki Futamura , Yukihiro Ohya","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.11.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.11.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In recent years, several targeted therapeutic options have become available for the management of atopic dermatitis in children. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed the efficacy and safety of systemic targeted therapies for atopic dermatitis in children.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic review of literature available in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and ICHUSHI databases until January 7, 2023, was performed. Randomized controlled trials of systemic targeted therapies (biologics and small molecules) on children aged 18 years or younger with atopic dermatitis were included. The primary outcomes were the eczema area and severity index (EASI) and adverse events. Other efficacy and safety outcomes were also used for meta-analysis and risk of bias analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 10 studies reported in 11 articles involving three agents (dupilumab, abrocitinib, and upadacitinib) and 1760 children. Systemic targeted therapies significantly improved eczema severity with an EASI-75 response (risk ratio, 2.99; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 2.66–3.37). However, systemic targeted therapies were associated with treatment-emergent adverse events (risk difference, 0.05; 95 % CI, 0.01–0.09), particularly among small molecules in subgroup analysis, while no such trend was observed with biologics. Systemic targeted therapy also significantly improved other efficacy outcomes, and no significant association was found in the other safety outcomes. There was no risk of bias in any of the outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings indicate that systemic targeted therapies are effective and relatively safe for treating atopic dermatitis in children, although small molecules may pose a slightly higher risk of adverse events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 3","pages":"Pages 424-434"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143257049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab in Japanese asthma patients with diverse backgrounds: Improvements in rhinosinusitis imaging (J-Real-Mepo)","authors":"Hiroyuki Nagase , Konomi Kobayashi , Makiko Toma-Hirano , Maho Suzukawa , Norihiro Harada , Katsunori Masaki , Yoshito Miyata , Mayoko Tsuji , Junko Terada-Hirashima , Keiko Komatsuzaki , Hitoshi Sasano , Kenji Mizumura , Ryoji Kagoya , Yuya Shimizu , Shintaro Yoshihara , Norio Kihara , Yasunari Miyazaki , Toshiyuki Koya , Naruhiko Sugihara , Nobuhisa Ishikawa , Yasuhiro Gon","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although randomized controlled trials (RCT) have demonstrated the efficacy of mepolizumab for asthma, they have excluded certain patient subgroups. To bridge the gap between RCT and real-world practice, the effectiveness of mepolizumab in a diverse population, including those potentially excluded from RCT, was assessed. Its effects on imaging findings and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with asthma were also assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective observational study of patients in Japan (J-Real-Mepo: UMIN000045021) evaluated multiple endpoints and analyzed the relationship between clinical background and treatment outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mepolizumab significantly reduced exacerbations, improved Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and reduced oral corticosteroid (OCS) dose, regardless of patient characteristics, including age, body mass index, smoking history, and comorbidities. Regarding RCT exclusion criteria, 29.4 % of patients had no history of exacerbations. Although 25.4 % of these patients required continuous OCS, the OCS dose was reduced similar to those with a history of exacerbations. Disease control and mepolizumab effectiveness in patients with a smoking history ≥10 pack-years was similar to that of never-smokers. Patients with eosinophil counts <150/μL had lower ACT scores and higher OCS use compared with patients with eosinophilia and comparable effectiveness regarding exacerbation and OCS reduction. Significant improvements in Lund–Mackay scores and CRS symptoms were observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mepolizumab effectiveness was demonstrated in a broad range of patients including those with RCT exclusion criteria, who had significant disease or OCS burden. These findings may explain the consistent results between RCT and real-world studies of mepolizumab.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 3","pages":"Pages 435-444"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mika Nakano , Naoko Okada , Natsuki Inoue , Akihiro Hatano , Sota Yamaguchi , Hiroko Inoue , Mamoru Yoshikawa
{"title":"Elevated MS4A2 and IgE interaction in nasal polyps contributing to poor postoperative prognosis in patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis","authors":"Mika Nakano , Naoko Okada , Natsuki Inoue , Akihiro Hatano , Sota Yamaguchi , Hiroko Inoue , Mamoru Yoshikawa","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory disease of various endotypes, including eosinophilic CRS (eCRS), which is characterized by marked eosinophilic infiltration and high refractory rates despite treatment. Recent findings suggest the interaction between local IgE and mast cells in nasal polyps (NPs) is key to eCRS pathogenesis; however, the details remain unclear. This study investigated the involvement of MS4A2, a component of the IgE receptor, in the pathogenesis of refractory eCRS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>NP tissue samples were collected from 47 patients with eCRS who underwent sinus surgery and classified into refractory and nonrefractory groups based on postoperative outcomes. Quantitative PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression of IgE receptor components (<em>MS4A2</em>, <em>FCER1A</em>, and <em>FCER1G</em>) and cell-specific markers (<em>CLC</em>, <em>TPSAB1</em>, and <em>GPR56</em>) in NP tissues. Immunofluorescence staining was used to confirm MS4A2 expression and colocalization with tryptase, ProMBP1, and IgE. ROC analysis was conducted to assess <em>MS4A2</em> mRNA levels as a predictor of refractory eCRS.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>MS4A2</em> mRNA expression was significantly elevated in the refractory group, whereas <em>FCER1A</em> and <em>FCER1G</em> mRNA expression levels showed no significant differences. Immunofluorescence revealed an increased number of MS4A2-positive cells, particularly those colocalized with tryptase-positive mast cells, in the refractory group. Cells coexpressing MS4A2 and IgE were more prevalent in this group. ROC analysis indicated that <em>MS4A2</em> mRNA expression can predict prognosis with high specificity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings suggest the significance of the interaction between MS4A2-expressing mast cells and local IgE in the pathogenesis of refractory eCRS, highlighting MS4A2 as a potential therapeutic target.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 2","pages":"Pages 283-291"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143014573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andreas Glässner , Michael Steffens , Amol Fatangare , Gerda Wurpts , Per Hoffmann , Philipp N. Deck , Christine Krämer , Stefani Röseler , Albert Sickmann , Markus M. Nöthen , Amir S. Yazdi , Bernhardt Sachs
{"title":"Analysis of differential gene expression of PBMC for the in vitro detection of drug sensitization","authors":"Andreas Glässner , Michael Steffens , Amol Fatangare , Gerda Wurpts , Per Hoffmann , Philipp N. Deck , Christine Krämer , Stefani Röseler , Albert Sickmann , Markus M. Nöthen , Amir S. Yazdi , Bernhardt Sachs","doi":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.alit.2024.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The detection of drug-specific activation of T cells in the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is mainly based on cell proliferation or cytokine secretion. However, the LTT presents with a varying sensitivity and specificity. The aim of our study was to analyse the genome wide gene expression of PBMC to identify drug allergy-specific gene regulation patterns. Additionally, gene expression differences related to the allergy-inducing drug or the type of allergy (immediate/delayed) were investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Blood samples from 40 patients with allergy to different drugs and from 40 non-drug-allergic controls were recruited. PBMC were isolated and stimulated with the culprit drug (“LTT-platform”). Transcriptome analyses of PBMC were conducted after 3.5 days. The concentration of IFN-γ and IL-5 in the culture supernatants was measured by ELISA after 6 days.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The transcriptome analyses revealed an allergy type and drug-specific gene regulation in PBMC from patients. Importantly, in the corresponding control groups these genes were barely or even opposingly regulated. It was also shown that in particular cefuroxime exerted a strong effect on the gene regulation in PBMC. Quantitative RT-PCR of selected genes identified by the transcriptome analyses revealed that CCL17, CISH and CD25 were specifically upregulated in patients. Notably, a strong upregulation of CCL17, CISH or CD25 did not necessarily correlate with the ELISA outcome of the patients and controls.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our results could be helpful for the identification of one or a panel of regulated genes considering patient specific parameters like the type of the allergy-inducing drug.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48861,"journal":{"name":"Allergology International","volume":"74 3","pages":"Pages 414-423"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142972935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}