The Editor takes a closer look at some of this month's articles

Abstract

Clinical & Experimental AllergyVolume 43, Issue 4 p. 379-379 Editor's ChoiceFree Access The Editor takes a closer look at some of this month's articles First published: 21 March 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.12103AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Angioedema: does progesterone work? Angioedema is a distressing and unpleasant condition. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema, including the common ACE inhibitor induced and the rare hereditary (HAE) forms, is potentially life-threatening and difficult to treat. The spectrum of angioedema, particularly the bradykinin associated forms, is reviewed in this issue by Busse and Buckland (pp. 385–394) and new developments in treatment are reviewed by Xu et al. (pp. 395–405). In addition, we report a study by Saule et al. (pp. 475–482), accompanied by a commentary by Hilary Longhurst (pp. 380–382), which describes the potential benefit of progesterone in women with mainly HAE. This group identified over 50 women who had been given progesterone treatment and found a convincing improvement in the frequency and severity of attacks after being started on this hormonal therapy. Time for a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Anne Gompel Bradykinin binds to the B2 receptor [see Figure 2 in Y.-Y. Xu et al. (pp.395–405)] Probiotics: immunology backs up the clinical findings Building on a previous clinical trial of probiotics in eczema which had shown a reduced risk of eczema at two years 1, Forsberg et al. (pp. 434–442) have now investigated whether there is an immunological explanation. They measured cytokine responses in mononuclear cells after allergen stimulation up to two years of age. They found a general reduction in the generation of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the subjects treated with Lactobacillus reuteri suggesting an overall lowering of allergen responsiveness by the probiotic treatment that could explain the reduction in eczema. Anna Forsberg Cat-allergen-induced IL-5 [see Figure 1 in A. Forsberg et al. (pp. 434–442)] Asthma and the environment: intruder in the dust Bacteria as well as eukaryotic cells generate extracellular vesicles (EV) which are thought to facilitate intercellular communication 2. In a thorough and original study involving both mice and humans, Kim et al. (pp. 443–454) have investigated whether such vesicles in house dust can promote an inflammatory response in the lung. They found that repeated administration of purified EV to the airway of mice resulted in a Th1-Th17-mediated neutrophilic inflammatory response. They went on to demonstrate that IgG antibodies against EV were higher in asthmatics compared with control subjects and speculate that bacteria-derived EV could be responsible in part for neutrophilic airway inflammation in asthma. You-Sun Kim Confocal microscopic images of MH-S cells [see Figure 5 in Y.-S. Kim et al. (pp. 443–454)] References 1Abrahamsson TR, Jakobsson T, Bottcher MF et al. Probiotics in prevention of IgE-associated eczema: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007; 119: 1174– 80. CrossrefCASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2van der Pol E, Boing AN, Harrison P, Sturk A, Nieuwland R. Classification, functions, and clinical relevance of extracellular vesicles. Pharmacol Rev 2012; 64: 676– 705. CrossrefCASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Caption to cover illustration C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) inhibits the activation of Factor 12 (FXII), Pre-Kallikrein to Kallikrein, plasminogen to plasmin, the first component of complement (C) from activating C4 and the production of bradykinin from high-molecular weight kininogen (HMWK). C1-INH also affects factor XI, but to a minimal extent. [see figure 2 in Y.-Y. Xu et al. (pp. 396–406)]. This logo highlights the Editor's Choice articles on the cover and the first page of each of the articles. Volume43, Issue4April 2013Pages 379-379 ReferencesRelatedInformation