Asthma is a chronic disease of airway inflammation due to excessive T helper cell type 2 (Th2) response. Present treatment based on inhalation of synthetic glucocorticoids can only control Th2-driven chronic eosinophilic inflammation, but cannot change the immune tolerance of the body to external allergens. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the main negative regulatory cells of the immune response. Tregs play a great role in regulating allergic, autoimmune, graft-versus-host responses, and other immune responses. In this review, we will discuss the classification and biological characteristics, the established immunomodulatory mechanisms, and the characteristics of induced differentiation of Tregs. We will also discuss the progress of Tregs in the field of asthma. We believe that further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of Tregs will provide better treatments and control strategies for asthma.
Antigens, CD/analysis* ; Apyrase/analysis* ; Asthma/immunology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology*

BACKGROUNDAsthma is a chronic airway disease with inflammation characterized by physiological changes (airway hyper-responsiveness, AHR) and pathological changes (inflammatory cells infiltration and mucus production). Eosinophils play a key role in the allergic inflammation. But the causative relationship between eosinophils and airway inflammation is hard to prove. One of the reasons is lack of activation marker of murine eosinophils. We investigated the expression of CD69 on murine eosinophils in vitro, the relationship between the expression of CD69 on eosinophils from peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.

METHODSEosinophils from peripheral blood of IL-5 transgenic mice (NJ.1638) were purified. Mice were divided into five groups: wild type mice sensitized and challenged with saline (WS group), wild type mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (WO group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with saline and transferred with purified eosinophils (ISE group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with OVA and transferred with purified eosinophils (IOE group), IL-5(-/-) mice sensitized and challenged with OVA and transferred with purified eosinophils, pretreated with anti CD4 monoclonal antibody (IOE+antiCD4mAb group). IL-5(-/-) mice were sensitized with OVA at day 0 and day 14, then challenged with OVA aerosol. On days 24, 25, 26 and 27 purified eosinophils were transferred intratracheally to IL-5(-/-) mice. On day 28, blood and BALF were collected and CD69 expression on eosinophils measured by flowcytometry.

RESULTSPurified eosinophils did not express CD69. But eosinophils cultured with PMA + MA, IFN-gamma, IL-5 or GM-CSF expressed CD69 strongly. Eosinophils from blood of WO, WS group did not express CD69 at all. The numbers of eosinophils in BALF of WO group, IOE group, ISE group and IOE + antiCD4mAb group were significantly higher than in mice of WS group which did not have eosinophils at all. CD69 expression on eosinophils in BALF of IOE and WO groups was strong. Eosinophils in BALF of ISE and IOE + antiCDmAb groups did not express CD69. The mucus production result was similar to CD69 expression. There were eosinophils infiltration in lung slides of all groups except WS group.

CONCLUSIONActivation in airway of eosinophils could directly lead to airway inflammation.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Asthma ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Eosinophils ; immunology ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Lectins, C-Type ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic

OBJECTIVETo explore the change of serious abdominal traumatic patients' cellular immunity and the effect of Astragalus Injection (AI) on it.

METHODSSixty-three serious abdominal traumatic patients were randomly assigned into two groups, the conventional group and the treated group, patients in the conventional group were given conventional treatment, while others in the treated group were given conventional treatment as the basis, with AI 20 ml was added into 250 ml of 5% glucose solution given through intravenous dripping, and then on the first day and 14th day, their T cell activated antigens as well as that of 10 healthy subjects were monitored.

RESULTSOn the first day, in the conventional group and treated group, the levels of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+), CD(16)(+), CD(69)(+) and CD(3)(+)/homologous leucocytic antigen-DR (HLA-DR(+)) were apparently lower than those in the healthy group (P < 0.05), while the CD(8)(+) was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the conventional group and the treated group (P > 0.05); on the 14th days, the levels of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+), CD(16)(+), CD(69)(+) and CD(3)(+)/HLA-DR(+) of the treated group got closed to healthy subject value, and got even higher than those of conventional group (P < 0.05); CD(8)(+) got close to that of healthy subjects, while obviously lower than that of conventional group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAfter serious abdominal trauma, cellular immunity lowered, auxiliary use of AI was beneficial to the restoration of cellular immunity.

Abdominal Injuries ; immunology ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Lectins, C-Type ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, IgG ; analysis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

Using anti-T6 and anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies, this study was designed to attain what would do to epidermal Langerhans cell (LC) markers in psoriatic patients when two remedies, etretinate and UVB, having controversial effects on LC were put to use simultaneously. In normal and psoriatic subjects, HLA-DR+ LC was approximately 80% of T6+ LC and a single dose of UVB equivalent to minimal erythema dose (MED), reduced LC membrane markers to approximately 30% of non-irradiated control. The recovery of LC membrane markers, after a single dose of UVB exposure were significantly faster in the group of etretinate treated psoriatic subject than only UVB irradiated psoriatic control. Taken together, seemed to exert prompt recovery of normalization of the number of LC from the depletion following the UVB.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etretinate/*therapeutic use ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens/analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Langerhans Cells/*drug effects/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/pathology/therapy ; *Ultraviolet Therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the activating effect of protein transduction domain (PTD) mediated BCR/ABL protein on T cells from CML patients.

METHODSThe plasmid containing PTD and b3a2 bcr/abl of CML was constructed by genetic engineering and expressed in E. coli. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CML patients were stimulated in vitro with purified PTD-BCR/ABL protein and the expression of the early activation antigen CD(69) on CD(8)(+) and CD(4)(+) T cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe optimal concentration of PTD-BCR/ABL protein for activating CD(8)(+) T cells in vitro was 100 micro g/ml, CD(69) expression peaked in three days stimulation. CD(8)(+) T cells were activated in 10 of 15 CML patients, the expression rate of CD(69) was (15.01 +/- 3.75)%. CD(4)(+) T cells were activated in 4 of 15 patients, the expression rate of CD(69) was (10.32 +/- 3.08)%. Both CD(8)(+) and CD(4)(+) T cells were activated simultaneously in 3 of them. However, neither CD(4)(+) nor CD(8)(+) T cells was activated by stimulation with BCR/ABL protein in all 15 specimens, the expression rate of CD(69) on CD(8)(+) and CD(4)(+) T cells was (1.36 +/- 0.31)% and (1.41 +/- 0.43)%, respectively. There was no difference compared with that of PBS control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBy using a PTD-mediated antigen delivering system, exogenous BCR/ABL protein can be delivered into APC, processed and presented onto surface of APC to activate Ag-specific CD(8)(+) and CD(4)(+) T cells in vitro.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; CD4 Antigens ; analysis ; CD8 Antigens ; analysis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Products, tat ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic role of STAT6 immunohistochemistry in solitary fibrous tumors (SFT)/meningeal hemangiopericytomas (HPC).

METHODEvaluated the expression of STAT6, vimentin, CD34, EMA, PR, S-100, CD56, GFAP and Ki-67 in a cohort of 37 SFT/meningeal HPC, 30 meningiomas and 30 schwannomas by immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSAll SFT/meningeal HPC demonstrated nuclear positivity for STAT6, and the proportion of positive tumor cells ranged from 60% to 95%, with no significant difference cases.Vimentin was strongly positive in all cases. CD34, EMA and PR positivity was found in 32 cases, 1 case and 4 cases, respectively.S-100 protein, CD56 and GFAP were negative; Ki-67 labeling index was 1%-8%. However, the meningiomas and schwannomas were negative for STAT6.

CONCLUSIONSSTAT6 is a relatively specific biomarker for SFT/meningeal HPC, and may be used in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SFT/meningeal HPC, especially for the atypical cases, and allows the precise pathologic diagnosis of SFT/meningeal HPC.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Hemangiopericytoma ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Meningioma ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Neurilemmoma ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; analysis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Vimentin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo construct the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP that contains mouse cell surface activation protein CD69 and enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP),and to generate CD69 transgenic mice based on this vector.

METHODSFirst, RNA was extracted from mouse lung tissue and cDNA was synthesized via reverse transcription. PCR primer was designed through the PubMed searching, then mouse CD69 DNA fragment was amplified with PCR. Second, this DNA fragment was subcloned to the pInsulater-LCK-IRES-EGFP plasmid and constructed the transgenic vector after the verification of nucleotide sequence. Third, the expression vector was then transfected into 293 T cells and its expression in 293 T cells was observed under fluorescence microscope. Last, microinjection was performed to transfer the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP into fertilized eggs, which were implanted into pseudo-pregnant recipient mice. After birth the tail samples of the pups were obtained for the purpose of genotyping to determine the transgenic founders. Fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer were used to measure the expression of CD69 on cells.

RESULTSThe construction of the expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP was verified by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The transfected 293 T cell showed expression of the protein under fluorescence microscope. Identification of PCR for the tail tissue of the pups confirmed the present of CD69 transgene and resting lymphocytes demonstrated the expression of CD69.

CONCLUSIONThe construction of expression vector pLCK-CD69-IRES-EGFP and generation of CD69 transgenic mice have been successfully processed, which lays a foundation of the solid pattern studies in inflammatory diseases.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; Genetic Vectors ; Genotype ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Lectins, C-Type ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transfection

The study was aimed at the exploration of relationship between T cells expressing killer cell inhibitor receptors (KIR, CD158 and CD94) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The expression rates of CD158a, CD158b and CD94 on T cells and NK cell were detected by flow cytometry and donor/recipient HLA-Cw was analyzed using PCR after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) and umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). After both PBSCT and UCBT, the rates of CD3(+)CD158a(+) and CD3(+)CD158b(+) T cells increased, especially the rate of CD8(+)CD158b(+) T cells. In both acute and chronic GVHD groups, the rate of CD3(+)CD158b(+) T cells increased, especially in acute GVHD. The CD94 mainly expressed on CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. The percentage of the expression of CD94 on CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells after UCBT and PBSCT increased significantly. The expression of KIR in GVHD (early stage of transplantation) increased but the expression of KIR in chronic GVHD (advanced stage of transplantation) decreased. Five patients who HLA-Cw matched had no severe GVHD. In four patients who underwent allo-PBSCT and UCBT from related HLA-matched donors, only 2 patients had no aGVHD. Four patients underwent transplantation from unrelated HLA-matched donors had GVHD. These observations suggested that there is some relationship between GVHD and KIR expression on T cells. CD158b might be an inhibitory molecule of T cell activated at early stage after transplantation. Understanding the mechanism of GVHD with the expression of KIR on T cells, especially those binding the HLA-Cw might shed light on the establishment of the specific immunotolerance for the prevention of GVHD. To pay attention to HLA-Cw typing is very important to reduce GVHD and increase GVL effect in related or unrelated HLA-matched transplantation.
Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Genotype ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type ; Receptors, Immunologic ; analysis ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; Receptors, KIR ; Receptors, KIR2DL1 ; Receptors, KIR2DL3 ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

This study reviewed 65 cases of polymorphic reticulosis (PR) with respect to clinical and histopathologic bases, and immunohistochemical studies were done using MT1 and UCHL as T-cell markers, MB2 as a B-cell marker and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin as a histiocytic marker. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The male to female ratio was 2.4:1 and the mean age of patients was 44.5 years. The sites involved primarily were the nasal cavity, tonsil and pharynx and about one-fourth of the total cases showed extensive involvement of two anatomical sites at initial presentation. 2. Almost all cases showed characteristic histologic features similar to those of peripheral T-cell lymphoma and showed positive reaction to the T-cell marker. The above immunohistochemical findings suggest strongly that quite a significant portion of PR is in fact T-cell lymphoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte/*analysis ; Antigens, Neoplasm/analysis ; Blood Sedimentation ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/chemistry/*pathology ; Human ; Lymphoma, T-Cell/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/chemistry/pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins/analysis ; Reticuloendotheliosis/metabolism/*pathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish flow cytometry (FCM) methods and evaluate their application value for measuring the index for enhancing immune function of health food.

METHODSIn mice experiment model, the dosage groups were respectively oral fed with three test substances according to 5, 10, 30 times of the recommended dose for human body; both the negative and positive control groups were fed with equivalence purified water once a day. The positive control was fed with 25 mg/kg body weight levamisole for 3 days before finishing the administration, and the immune two percent of sheep erythrocytes were administrated at the last day. In rats experiment model, the test substance was given by mixing feed according to 25 and 50 times of the recommended dose for human body. At the end of the experiment, indices below were simultaneously detected. (1) The classical indices included: spleen lymphocyte transformation test by using ConA (MTT assay); spleen NK cell activity test (LDH assay); delayed-type hypersensitivity test by using sheep erythrocyte (foot palm thickening) method and phagocytosis activity tested by mice peritoneal macrophages. (2) FCM indices included: T and B lymphocytes quantitating in mice peripheral blood, activated antigen expression level in the surface of T lymphocytes and NK cells and phagocytosis activity for fluospheres in mice peritoneal macrophages.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the negative control group, there were no significant differences in T and B lymphocytes proportion and the number of lymphocytes in mice peripheral blood after given 0.83, 1.67, 5.01 g/kg protein powder; (2) mice peripheral blood T lymphocyte sub-cluster CD(69)(+)/CD(3)(+) of 3.75, 7.50, 15.0 ml/kg bw Cen-Rong Cream groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.05), which were shown a good coherence with the classic test index; (3) mice peripheral blood NK cell sub-cluster CD(69)(+)/NKG2D(+) of 0.83, 1.67 g/kg protein powder groups were both significantly increased (P < 0.05), which was kept in good coherence with those of NK cell activity test (LDH assay); rats peripheral blood NK cell sub-cluster CD(161a+)/CD(25)(+) of 1.50 g/kg ganoderma lucidum and cordycepicmycelia group was significantly increased (P < 0.05); (4) the phagocytosis activity in mice peritoneal macrophages: there were no significant difference found between the controls and the dosage groups in the classic test. However, in the FCM test, the percentage of phagocytic cells of 0.15, 0.30, 0.90 g/kg ganoderma lucidum and cordycepicmycelia groups and the phagocytic index of 0.30, 0.90 g/kg were enhanced.

CONCLUSIONIt suggests that was shown in detecting and assessing enhancing immune function of health food the results tested by FCM were fairly consistent with those by using traditional methods, most of them would have higher sensitivity. It should be valuable to applying FCM in the measurement and assessment of enhancing immune function of health food and worth while to further study as to enlarging its application.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Cell Survival ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sheep ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology