5 KU/l) and defined to contain 1000 AU/ml of anti-Der p IgG. Serum anti-Der p IgG subclasses: Paired maternal and cord serum samples were added in duplicate at dilutions of 1:5 (IgG1), 1:2 (IgG2) and 1:2

(IgG4), followed by twofold serial dilutions, and incubated for 1.5 h on Der p-coated plates. As secondary antibody, biotinylated anti-human learn more IgG1 (555869; BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA, USA), IgG2 (555874; BD Pharmingen) and IgG4 (555882; BD Pharmingen) were used at dilutions of 1:500, 1:1000 and 1:100, respectively, and incubated for 1.5 h. This step was followed by incubation with streptavidin-HRP (554066; BD Pharmingen) diluted 1:500, 1:1000 and 1:500, respectively, for 1.5 h. Concentrations were expressed as arbitrary units (AU/ml)

as described previously. Colostrum anti-Der p IgA: Colostrum samples in duplicate were diluted 1:100 followed by two steps of twofold serial dilutions and incubated at 37 °C for 2 h on purified Der p-coated plates. As secondary antibody, we used peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgA (A0295; Sigma) diluted 1:6000 and incubated 1.5 h at 37 °C. The results TGF-beta inhibitor were expressed as arbitrary units (AU/ml) obtained by comparison with a colostrum pool (collected from 24 mothers with anti-Der p IgE concentration ≥17.5 KU/l) and defined to contain 1000 AU/ml of colostrum anti-Der p IgA. Colostrum anti-Der p IgG: Colostrum anti-Der p IgG quantification was cAMP performed as described for colostrum anti-Der p IgA with some modifications: colostrum samples were diluted 1:2 and incubated at 37 °C for 2 h on purified Der p-coated plates. As secondary antibody, we used anti-human biotinylated IgG (555785; BD Pharmingen) followed by streptavidin-HRP

(554066; BD Pharmingen), both diluted 1:500 and incubated for 1.5 h at 37 °C. OPD was used as the chromogenic substrate, and concentrations were expressed as arbitrary units (AU/ml) obtained by comparison with a colostrum pool as described previously. Statistical analyses.  Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 5.00 for Windows (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). Dots represent individual data points, and horizontal lines, the medians of each group. Mann–Whitney test was used to determine statistical differences because the D’Agostino–Pearson normality test was not passed. Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to compare more than two groups. When significant differences were found, a Mann–Whitney test was performed to determine which groups differed. Correlation coefficients of antibody levels in maternal serum versus colostrum or cord blood were determined using Spearman’s tests. Two-tailed P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant and graphically represented as *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001.