Some epidemiological or association studies suggest that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in breast milk may be a decisive factor in diminishing the risk of allergic diseases during infancy. The observations have prompted us to investigate whether TGF-beta, when taken orally, can affect allergic immune responses. Repeated high-dose ovalbumin peptide (OVA) feeding was previously reported to induce OVA-specific IgE production and an anaphylactic reaction after intravenous challenge of OVA in OVA-TCR transgenic mice, which might represent a model for food allergy. By using this model, we showed here that oral administration of high-dose TGF-beta simultaneously with OVA feeding significantly inhibited the OVA-specific IgE elevation and anaphylactic reaction in OVA-TCR transgenic DO11.10 mice. These effects were associated with suppression of OVA-specific IL-4 production and GATA-3 expression and with up-regulation of IFN-gamma production and T-bet expression by splenocytes. Intra-peritoneal injection of anti-TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody abolished the inhibitory effects of orally administered TGF-beta on the serum IgE response and anaphylactic reaction after OVA feeding in DO11.10 mice. Interestingly, oral administration of high-dose TGF-beta suppressed activation-induced T cell death induced by OVA feeding in DO11.10 mice. We thus conclude that TGF-beta, when taken orally at high dose, has the capacity to modulate a food allergy-related reaction, at least in part, through its systemic activity.

No abstract

Key words：mesenteric panniculitis, peritoneal dialysis, obstruction of dialysate drainage 〈Abstract〉 A 52-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy started peritoneal dialysis(PD)in June 2008. On September 14, 2009, he underwent a medical examination because of abdominal fullness, a low drain volume, and cloudy dialysate. Blood examination did not indicate infection or inflammation. The mesenteric fat tissue appeared as a large, high-density mass on an abdominal computed tomography scan. We assumed that this mass obstructed the flow of the dialysate. Because no specific treatment has been established, we administered antibiotics and steroids. Subsequently, the area of the large mass decreased, and dialysate drainage improved. However, the patient developed repeated bacterial peritonitis, and underdialysis occurred. His dialysis therapy was switched to hemodialysis in May 2010. Thus, although mesenteric panniculitis is a rare disease, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of PD patients with a low drain volume.

No abstract

No abstract