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*

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, differential diagnosis and gene mutation status of the Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD).

METHODSClinical and pathologic findings of 3 ECD cases were examined by gross, microscopic, immunohistochemical methods and BRAF V600E mutation. Related literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSTwo male patients and one female patient presented clinically with multiple skin nodules, bone pain and bony lesions by imaging study. Microscopically, the lesions were composed of spindle-shaped fibroblasts, foamy histiocytes and scattered Touton-type giant cells embedded in reactive fibrous tissue. Lymphocytes, plasma cells, and multinucleated giant cells were also found. Immunohistochemically, all histiocytes were positive for CD68, none of which expressed CD1a, although 2 cases focally expressed weak S-100 stain. In 2 cases,BRAF V600E mutation was detected.

CONCLUSIONSECD is a rare disease of xanthogranulomatous histiocytosis.Its diagnosis relies on pathological and immunohistochemical findings, but correlation with clinical information, especially radiographic findings should be performed.No effective treatment of the disease is currently available.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD1 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erdheim-Chester Disease ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Treatment Outcome

The phenotypes of the bone marrow cells in various subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and its clinical implication were explored. The antigen expression of a panel of antigens expressed in marrow cells from 30 patients with subtypes of MDS was assayed by alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method. The results showed that the expression of myeloid antigens appeared abnormality, CD13 and CD33, found on granulocyte and macrophage precursors, increased, and CD15 decreased. There were no significant changes for monocytic antigen CD14 and lymphoid antigens CD7 and CD10. CD34 was increased in RAEB/RAEB-t and was not increased in RA/RAS patients. CD71, expressed by erythroblast and proliferative cells, was higher in all subtypes of MDS than that in control group. It is suggested that the bone marrow cells from MDS patients showed abnormality of more than two series of immunophenotypes, detection of immunophenotype in MDS cells might be contributed to the diagnosis and predicting prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, CD7 ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; CD13 Antigens ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lewis X Antigen ; analysis ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; analysis ; Receptors, Transferrin ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3

OBJECTIVETo explore in vitro expansion of CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH, and compare the capabilities of survival, proliferation and expansion between CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH and CD34+ cells from normal control.

METHODSCD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH and CD34+ cells from normal control were selected from the bone marrow mononuclear cells by means of two-step sorting method with immunomagnetic microbead-flow cytometry, then underwent in vitro expansion for two weeks and semi-solid culture in vitro before and after expansion.

RESULTS(1) CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH can be expanded effectively in vitro, and the biggest expansion of CD34+CD59+ cells was about 23.49 fold on the 7th day. (2) There were some similar characteristics between CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH and CD34+ cells from normal control, such as: the best combination of hematopoietic factors for in vitro expansion was SCF+ IL-3 + IL-6 + FL + Tpo + Epo, and the seventh day was the most suitable in course of 4-14 days for in vitro expansion, and after in vitro expansion, the cells remained CD59 positive and strong capability of performing colony-forming. (3) CD34+ cells from normal control had better proliferation, expansion and stronger potential to survive than CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH.

CONCLUSIONS(1) In vitro expansion of CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH can be performed. The present study showed the possibility of performing ABMT or APBSCT clinically for patients with PNH. (2) There were some similar characteristics between CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH and CD34+ cells from normal control, but the latter had better proliferation, expansion and stronger potential to survive than the former. CD34+CD59+ cells from patients with PNH were not completely normal cells.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; CD59 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping

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

We describe a newly-made murine monoclonal antibody to the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA), named SHB-10. The antigen detected by SHB-10 has a molecular weight of about 105 kDa. This antibody is very similar to that of conventional anti-CD10 Ab on indirect flowcytometric analysis using lymphoid malignant cell lines and peripheral lymphocytes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. The binding of anti-CD10 to Daudi cell and peripheral lymphocytes of ALL patients is blocked by SHB-10. Thus this monoclonal antibody is thought to detect the CALLA. The distribution of antigen detected by SHB-10 on several cell lines of neuroectodermal tumor and lymphoid malignancy was analysed and a slight difference in their cell surface expression is observed when compared with that by conventional anti-CD10. Further biochemical analysis is now under way for a better characterization of this antigen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*immunology ; Antigens, Differentiation/*analysis/immunology ; Antigens, Neoplasm/*analysis/immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes/analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasms/*immunology ; Neprilysin ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of CD163 in the diagnosis and the evaluation of severity and prognosis of childhood hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

METHODSNinety-four children were classified into Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive (n=55) and EBV-negative groups (n=39; control group). The EBV-positive group was subgrouped into infectious mononucleosis (IM; n=47) and HLH (n=8). Serum levels of soluble CD163 were measured using ELISA. Expression of CD163 on mononuclear cells was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe serum levels of soluble CD163 were>10 000 ng/mL in all eight HLH patients (>30 000 ng/mL in 3 cases). The mean serum levels of soluble CD163 in the HLH group were significantly higher than in the control and IM groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of soluble CD163 in EBV-positive children were positively correlated with EBV-DNA copies and serum levels of ferritin and LDH, but were negatively correlated with white blood cell count, neutrophil count, hemoglobin and platelet count. The follow-up after treatment for three HLH patients showed that serum levels of soluble CD163 were significantly reduced, but the soluble CD163 levels rebounded in one patient who was complicated by fungal pneumonia infection.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of serum soluble CD163 may be related to the severity in children with HLH. The EBV-positive children with soluble CD163 levels >10 000 ng/mL should be considered the possibility of HLH.

Adolescent ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; analysis

Acute monocytic leukemia is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with characteristic biology and clinical features. This study was designed to compare the immunophenotypical features and clinical manifestations of the patients with AML-M(5a) to that of patients with AML-M(5b), and to identify differences between M(5a) and M(5b) and to explore their relations. A total of 58 cases of de novo adult patients with AML M(5) were investigated. Immunofluorescence analysis by flow cytometry was performed to determine the immunophenotype of the leukemic cells in all cases. Meanwhile, clinical data of these cases were studied retrospectively. The results showed that the immunophenotypes of monocytic leukemic cells in patients with AML M(5) were heterogeneous, and CD68 and CD11b were expressed higher in patients with AML M(5a), compared with that in patients with AML M(5b) (P < 0.01). The significant differences in sex, extramedullary infiltration, WBC counts of peripheral blood, complete remission rate and disease-free survival (DFS > 300 days) between the patients with AML M(5a) and M(5b) did not exist (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the special individual immunophenotype features can be detected in patients with either of AML M(5a) or M(5b), and that expressions of CD68 and CD11b were much higher in M(5a). It seems that the complete remission rate and disease-free survival of patients with M(5a) and M(5b) are not different from that of currently available therapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; CD11b Antigen ; analysis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; classification ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the separation, purification and ex vivo expansion of CD(34)(+) CD(59)(+) cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and explore the new treatment for the PNH patients.

METHODSCD(34)(+) CD(59)(+) cells were selected from the bone marrow mononuclear cells of PNH patients by means of immunomagnetic microbead-flow cytometry two step sorting method, followed by ex vivo expansion of the cells with combination of hematopoietic factors for two weeks.

RESULTSThe best combination for the ex vivo expansion was SCF + IL-3 + IL-6 + FL + Tpo + Epo, and the seventh day was the most suitable time for the best harvest when the CD(34)(+) CD(59)(+) cells were 22.42 +/- 3.73 fold expanded. After ex vivo expansion, the cells remained CD(59) positive and potent capacity of colony formation, but their potentialities to multilineage differentiation were decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe present study shows that ex vivo expansion of CD(34)(+) CD(59)(+) cells from PNH patients might promise the possibility of performing ABMT or APBSCT clinincally for the patients.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; CD59 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; immunology ; Cell Division ; immunology ; Cell Lineage ; Flow Cytometry ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Time Factors

The present study was aimed to elucidate the expression features of lymphoid differentiation antigens and their clinical implications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Immunophenotypes were examined by indirect immunofluorescence method with monoclonal antibodies (McAb) in 62 patients with AML. The results showed that 11 cases of AML were found to express lymphoid differentiation antigen Ly(+)AML in addition to myeloid antigen expression. There was no significant difference in clinical manifestation and blood test between the groups of Ly(+)AML and Ly(-)AML when they were newly diagnosed. Only one case gained long-term remission using standard chemotherapy. It is concluded that Ly(+)AML cells seem to be not sensitive to conventional chemotherapy, however, a treatment protocol for both ALL and AML can improve the curative effects. The overexpression of CD34(+) may be responsible for the relatively low level of long term survival rate in Ly(+)AML patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Differentiation ; analysis ; Antigens, Ly ; analysis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis