The soluble TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK, TNFSF12) binds to the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 receptor (FN14, TNFRSF12A) on the cell membrane and induces multiple biological responses, such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Previous reports show that TWEAK, which does not contain a death domain in its cytoplasmic tail, induces the apoptosis of tumor cell lines through the induction of TNFα secretion. TWEAK induces apoptosis in human keratinocytes. Our experiments clearly demonstrate that TWEAK does not induce the secretion of TNFα or TRAIL proteins. The use of specific inhibitors and the absence of procaspase-3 cleavage suggest that the apoptosis of keratinocytes follows a caspase- and cathepsin B-independent pathway. Further investigation showed that TWEAK induces a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of keratinocytes. Confocal microscopy showed that TWEAK induces the cleavage and the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria to the nucleus, thus initiating caspase-independent apoptosis. Moreover, TWEAK induces FOXO3 and GADD45 expression, cdc2 phosphorylation and cdc2 and cyclinB1 degradation, resulting in the arrest of cell growth at the G2/M phase. Finally, we report that TWEAK and FN14 are normally expressed in the basal layer of the physiological epidermis and are greatly enhanced in benign (psoriasis) and malignant (squamous cell carcinoma) skin pathologies that are characterized by an inflammatory component. TWEAK might play an essential role in skin homeostasis and pathology.

Background: Today, the number of allergy is increasing in industrialized countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies allergic diseases to be the fourth in the world of affections. The frequency of respiratory allergy including asthma and allergic rhinitis due to pollen is increasing in the young and urban dwellers in developed countries. The prevention and management of allergy in universities is an area of active interest because allergies and asthma rates among young people continue to increase. The allergic reactions are less serious whereas they can develop into a serious form of asthma and anaphylaxis that can endanger life and require immediate medical care. A better understanding of the prevalence and characteristics of allergy can help guide to strategy of management against development of allergic rhinitis, asthma and anaphylaxis within and outside academic institutions in order to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study was carried out for a characterization of pollen allergy and its relation with the environment in the university establishment in order to propose strategy of management against this disease. Methods: The project was to study pollen allergy in FPBM in an effective sample of 529 randomly chosen within a range of about 7,000 students. A survey was made for a descriptive studies. Results: The percentage of students allergic to pollen surveyed in the FPBM was 39%. This percentage was within the confidence interval of all students in the allergic FPBM [35%; 44%] estimated 5% error risk. This results prove that our sample was representative. We also found that the most common symptoms of pollen allergy among its students are the nasal symptoms (sneezing and nasal itching). These symptoms characterize allergic rhinitis. Our study shows that the olive tree is the main allergen causing pollen allergy in the region. This study shows that most students have allergies in the spring season; this could be explained by the pollinisation of olive tree in this period. Our study shows that the majority of surveyed students are allergic to one or two types of plants and the cross-reactivity between pollen and food was the most dominant. Conclusion:The case reported here is particularly interesting because, to the best of our knowledge, high percentage of allergy to the pollen in the region Beni Mellal-Khenifra has not reported before. Olive tree was the main allergen, this can be explained by the richness of the region of Beni-Mellal-Khénifra with this plant. These results are unexpected; normally these youngsters must present a resistance to the pollen present in the region because they are native and have an adaptation to the environment. But we find an almost quarter of the young people surveyed in the area present the allergy. This allows us to ask several questions about the relationship between environment and the development of allergy.