title: Helicobacter pylori, asthma and allergy.
abstract: Bronchial asthma and allergic diseases are orchestrated by T-cells producing T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5, and are inhibited by Th1 responses. Helicobacter pylori has chronically infected the human population for c. 100,000 years and preferentially elicits a Th1 mucosal immune response with the production of interferon-gamma and IL-12. Among several bacterial factors, the neutrophil-activating protein of H. pylori (HP-NAP) not only plays a key role in driving Th1 inflammation but it is also able to inhibit Th2 responses in vitro and in vivo in allergic bronchial asthma, in humans and mice. Both systemic and mucosal administrations of HP-NAP are successful in reducing eosinophilia, immunoglobulin E and systemic Th2 cytokines at the bronchial level. Thus, these results identify HP-NAP as a candidate for novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. delios@unifi.it
authors.forename: Mario Milco
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: D'Elios
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Codolo
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amedei
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bernard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; C092412:neutrophil-activating protein A, Helicobacter pylori