Eicosanoids are biologically active lipid mediators, comprising prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, and lipoxins, involved in several pathophysiological processes relevant to asthma, allergies, and allied diseases. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are the most studied eicosanoids and established inducers of airway pathophysiology including bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. Drugs inhibiting the synthesis of lipid mediators or their effects, such as leukotriene synthesis inhibitors, leukotriene receptors antagonists, and more recently prostaglandin D 2 receptor antagonists, have been shown to modulate features of asthma and allergic diseases. This review, | 115 SOKOLOWSKA et AL.

Sin a 2 and Ara h 1 interact with lipid components, which might well contribute to explain the potent allergenic capacity of these two clinically relevant allergens belonging to the cupin superfamily.

BackgroundPolymerized allergoids coupled to nonoxidized mannan (PM‐allergoids) may represent novel vaccines targeting dendritic cells (DCs). PM‐allergoids are better captured by DCs than native allergens and favor Th1/Treg cell responses upon subcutaneous injection. Herein we have studied in mice the in vivo immunogenicity of PM‐allergoids administered sublingually in comparison with native allergens.MethodsThree immunization protocols (4‐8 weeks long) were used in Balb/c mice. Serum antibody levels were tested by ELISA. Cell responses (proliferation, cytokines, and Tregs) were assayed by flow cytometry in spleen and lymph nodes (LNs). Allergen uptake was measured by flow cytometry in myeloid sublingual cells.ResultsA quick antibody response and higher IgG2a/IgE ratio were observed with PM‐allergoids. Moreover, stronger specific proliferative responses were seen in both submandibular LNs and spleen cells assayed in vitro. This was accompanied by a higher IFNγ/IL‐4 ratio with a quick IL‐10 production by submandibular LN cells. An increase in CD4+ CD25high FOXP3+ Treg cells was detected in LNs and spleen of mice treated with PM‐allergoids. These allergoids were better captured than native allergens by antigen‐presenting (CD45+ MHC‐II +) cells obtained from the sublingual mucosa, including DCs (CD11b+) and macrophages (CD64+). Importantly, all the differential effects induced by PM‐allergoids were abolished when using oxidized instead of nonoxidized PM‐allergoids.ConclusionOur results demonstrate for the first time that PM‐allergoids administered through the sublingual route promote the generation of Th1 and FOXP3+ Treg cells in a greater extent than native allergens by mechanisms that might well involve their better uptake by oral antigen‐presenting cells.

DCs: Dendritic cells; SOCS: Suppressor of cytokine signaling; HDACs: Histone deacetylases;Mannan-tolDCs: Tolerogenic DCs generated by allergoid-mannan conjugates Allergoid-mannan conjugates reprogram monocytes into tolerogenic DCsT cell naïve

The human endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) regulates key physiological processes and alterations in its signaling pathways, and endocannabinoid levels are associated with diseases such as neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, cancer, pain and inflammation, obesity, and metabolic and different immune related disorders. Immune system cells express the G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB), but its functional role has not been fully understood, likely due to the lack of appropriate tools. The availability of novel tools to investigate the role of CB in immune regulation might contribute to identify CB as a potential novel therapeutic target or biomarker for many diseases. Herein, we report the development and validation of the first fluorescent small molecule probe to directly visualize and quantify CB in blood and tonsil immune cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We coupled the cannabinoid agonist HU210 to the fluorescent tag Alexa Fluor 488, generating a fluorescent probe with high affinity for CB and selectivity over CB. We validate HU210-Alexa488 for the rapid, simultaneous, and reproducible identification of CB in human monocytes, T cells, and B cells by multiplexed flow cytometry. This probe is also suitable for the direct visualization of CB in tonsil tissues, allowing the in vivo identification of tonsil CB-expressing T and B cells. This study provides the first fluorescent chemical tool to investigate CB expression and function in human blood and tonsil immune cells, which might well pave the way to unravel essential features of CB in different immune and ECS-related diseases.