To compare the mediator releasability between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics, we measured basophil histamine releasability (BaHR) using a calcium-ionophore A23187 and anti-IgE in 137 subjects who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital. Subjects were categorized into atopic (group AA, n=77) or nonatopic asthmatics (group NA, n=32), or normal controls (group NC, n=28). Serum total IgE levels were determined and correlation with BaHR was assessed. Anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR in groups AA, NA, and NC was 41.0+/-3.2, 23.1+/-4.5, and 16.8+/-3.8, respectively (mean+/-SE, %). Anti-IgE-induced BaHR in group AA was significantly higher than that in groups NA and NC (p<0.05). Calcium ionophore A23187-induced maximal BaHR was 43.1+/-2.8, 40.8+/-4.4, and 50.5+/-5.2, respectively (mean+/-SE, %), and there was no significant difference among the groups. Serum total IgE level correlated significantly with anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR (r=0.281, p<0.01) but not with that induced by calcium ionophore A23187. In conclusion, IgE receptor-related BaHR is higher in atopic asthmatics than in nonatopic asthmatics, and this increased BaHR in atopics is significantly associated with increased serum total IgE level.
Asthma/immunology* ; Basophils/immunology* ; Basophils/drug effects ; Calcimycin/pharmacology ; Child ; Comparative Study ; Histamine Release/immunology* ; Histamine Release/drug effects ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; IgE/blood ; Ionophores/pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qingkailing injection on RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and histamine release, and discuss the possible mechanism of anaphylactoid reaction induced by Qingkailing injection.

METHODRBL-2H3 cells were incubated with Qingkailing injection for 30 min. Then the morphological changes of cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Cell degranulation rate was detected by Alcian blue dye assay, Annexin V binding assay and beta-hexosaminidase assay, and cell histamine release rate was detected by ELISA.

RESULTDifferent concentration of Qingkailing injection can induce the typical morphological changes in RBL-2H3 cell with degranulation. The rates of degranulation and histamine release in Qingkailing injection treated cells were significantly increased and dose-dependent.

CONCLUSIONRBL-2H3 cell degranulation and histamine release can be induced by single administration of Qingkailing injection, and then induced anaphylactoid reaction, which may be one of the possible mechanisms of serious adverse induced by Qingkailing injection for the first administration in clinic.

Animals ; Basophils ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiology ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Rats

Mast cells and basophils are multifunctional effector cells that contain abundant secretory granules in their cytoplasm. Both cell types are involved in a variety of inflammatory and immune events, producing an array of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines. The aim of the study was to examine whether isoquercitrin modulates allergic and inflammatory reactions in the human basophilic KU812 cells and to elucidate its influence on the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. The KU812 cells were stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate plus the calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI). The inhibitory effects of isoquercitrin on the productions of histamine and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the stimulated KU812 cells were measured using cytokine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays. Western blotting analysis was used to assess the effects of isoquercitrin on the MAPKs and NF-κB protein levels. Our results indicated that the isoquercitrin treatment of PMACI-stimulated KU812 cells significantly reduced the production of histamine and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The treated cells exhibited decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), revealing the role of ERK MAPK in isoquercitrin-mediated allergy inhibition. Furthermore, isoquercitrin suppressed the PMACI-mediated activation of NF-κB in the human basophil cells. In conclusion, the results from the present study provide insights into the potential therapeutic use of isoquercitrin for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic reactions.
Basophils ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cytokines ; genetics ; immunology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; immunology ; Histamine ; immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Thyroid antibodies are frequently observed in urticaria patients, but their roles in urticaria are not clearly elucidated. We investigated the role of serum specific IgE to thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in patients with aspirin intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU) and aspirin intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU). We recruited 59 AIAU and 96 AICU patients with 69 normal controls (NC). Serum specific IgE to TPO was measured by manual direct ELISA, and CD203c expressions on basophil with additions of TPO were measured to prove a direct role of TPO in effector cells. The prevalences of serum specific IgE to TPO were significantly higher in AIAU (15.2%) and AICU groups (7.5%) compared to NC (0%, P=0.018: P=0.013, respectively). Flow cytometry showed CD203c induction in a dose dependent manner with serial additions of TPO in some AIAU and AICU patients having high specific IgE to TPO. Our findings show that the prevalence of serum specific IgE to TPO was significantly higher in both AIAU and AICU patients than in NC. It is suggested that specific IgE to TPO play a pathogenic role in AIAU and AICU.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Aspirin/*adverse effects ; Autoantibodies/immunology ; Basophils/drug effects/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/*immunology ; Iodide Peroxidase/blood/*immunology ; Urticaria/*chemically induced/*immunology/pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects and mechanism of ethanol extract of Inonotus obliquus (EEIO) injection on asthmatic mice.

METHODOVA was injected intraperitoneally and inhaled to produce the asthmatic model. Thirty two mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, asthma group and I. obliquus groups of high and low dose. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in BALF, the phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissues were respectively measured by ELISA and Western blotting. The number of inflammatory cells in BALF and histopathology changes were observed.

RESULTIn asthmatic group, the number of inflammatory cells and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and phospho-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were higher, while IFN-gamma were lower than those in normal control mice (P < 0.05). In I. obliquus group, the number of inflammatory cells, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and phosphor-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were lower, but were higher than those in normal control mice (P < 0.05), and histropathology damage was alleviated significantly. There was no significant difference observed among the efficacies in the I. obliquus groups of high and low dose.

CONCLUSIONp38 MAPK may play a role in pathological process of asthma. I. obliquus effectively treats asthma by inhibiting the expression of phosphor-p38 MAPK, correcting the unbalance of IFN-gamma/IL-4 and decreasing the number of inflammatory cells.

Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Basophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interferon-gamma ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; drug effects ; metabolism