In past 10 years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained scientific attention due to their importance in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and their potential as biomarkers in liquid biopsies. They act as master post‐transcriptional regulators that control most cellular processes. As one miRNA can target several mRNAs, often within the same pathway, dysregulated expression of miRNAs may alter particular cellular responses and contribute, or lead, to the development of various diseases. In this review, we give an overview of the current research on miRNAs in allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Specifically, we discuss how individual miRNAs function in the regulation of immune responses in epithelial cells and specialized immune cells in response to different environmental factors and respiratory viruses. In addition, we review insights obtained from experiments with murine models of allergic airway and skin inflammation and offer an overview of studies focusing on miRNA discovery using profiling techniques and bioinformatic modeling of the network effect of multiple miRNAs. In conclusion, we highlight the importance of research into miRNA function in allergy and asthma to improve our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this heterogeneous group of diseases.

Mediators released from activated mast cells are responsible for the allergic inflammatory reactions associated with disease states such as anaphylaxis and atopy. These mediators are released as a consequence of immediate degranulation and phospholipid metabolism upon mast cell activation, followed by delayed cytokine gene expression. Thus, techniques that monitor indices of these events in mast cell culture systems, in association with biochemical analysis of parameters of cell signaling, are critical to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating mast cell–mediated disease. Furthermore, these systems can be adapted for high‐throughput screens to identify potential inhibitors of mast cell activation that may provide potential leads for novel therapies for these diseases. In this unit, we describe approaches that can be readily used or adapted to a variety of rodent and human mast cell culture systems for the determination of degranulation, phospholipid‐derived inflammatory mediator production, and cytokine generation. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 91:7.38.1‐7.38.9. © 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction in response to a wide range of exogenous stimuli. The airway epithelium is the first line of defense and plays an important role in initiating host defense and controlling immune responses. Indeed, increasing evidence indicates a range of abnormalities in various aspects of epithelial barrier function in asthma. A central part of this impairment is a disruption of the airway epithelial layer, allowing inhaled substances to pass more easily into the submucosa where they may interact with immune cells. Furthermore, many of the identified susceptibility genes for asthma are expressed in the airway epithelium. This review focuses on the biology of the airway epithelium in health and its pathobiology in asthma. We will specifically discuss external triggers such as allergens, viruses and alarmins and the effect of type 2 inflammatory responses on airway epithelial function in asthma. We will also discuss epigenetic mechanisms responding to external stimuli on the level of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, as well the airway epithelium as a potential treatment target in asthma.

The use of N‐substituted imidazoles is widespread, and imidazole and triazole fungicides have been detected in the aquatic environment and shown to bioaccumulate in fish. We have investigated effects of the model imidazole, ketoconazole, on drug‐metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) forms. We focused on cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) and cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) expression and activities in juvenile rainbow trout and in adult killifish. The CYP1A expression (mRNA, protein) and activity was induced in rainbow trout, whereas in killifish no effect of ketoconazole on CYP1A protein expression was observed. A biphasic dose‐response relationship was observed between ketoconazole exposure and hepatic CYP1A‐mediated ethoxyresorufin O‐deethy‐lase (EROD) activity in rainbow trout in vitro and in vivo, implying that higher doses of ketoconazole inhibit CYP1A activities. Slight induction of CYP3A protein levels was observed in rainbow trout exposed in vivo to ketoconazole. However, the CYP3A‐mediated benzyloxy‐4‐[trifluoromethyl]‐coumarin (BFC) O‐debenzyloxylase activity was reduced in rainbow trout and killifish treated with ketoconazole. In vitro inhibition studies confirmed that ketoconazole was a potent inhibitor of both CYP3A and CYP1A enzyme activities in these species. This study showed that ketoconazole induced CYP1A and CYP3A expression in rainbow trout. However, the most pronounced effect of ketoconazole was a 60 to 90% decrease in CYP3A catalytic activities in rainbow trout and in killifish.