Bronchiolitis is a risk factor for the development of childhood asthma. Eosinophilic inflammation in airways plays an important role in the pathophysiology of both bronchiolitis and asthma. To investigate this inflammation, we measured the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and eotaxin levels in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS). Twenty-eight patients with RSV bronchiolitis (RSV group), 11 patients with non-RSV bronchiolitis (non-RSV group) and 7 controls were enrolled in this study. ECP, RANTES, and eotaxin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassays. The ECP level in the NPS of the RSV group was significantly higher than that in the NPS of the non-RSV group and controls. RANTES and eotaxin levels in infants with bronchiolitis were significantly higher than those in the controls, but there was no significant difference between the RSV and non-RSV groups. In conclusion, with regard to eosinophilic airway inflammation, as compared with non-RSV bronchiolitis, RSV bronchiolitis may be more similar to childhood asthma.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/*immunology ; RANTES/analysis ; Nasopharynx/*immunology/secretion ; Male ; Infant ; Humans ; Female ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein/*analysis ; Chemokines, CC/analysis ; Chemokines/*analysis ; Bronchiolitis/*immunology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of the dental decay of children with the contents of chemokine CCL28 and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in saliva. METHODS: A total of 108 children in 2 kindergartens of Changsha, with age from 3 to 5 years old, were enrolled for this study. The saliva was collected from these children when they were in the examination of mouth. Th e children were divided into 3 groups: A non-caries group [dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT)=0], a low caries group (DMFT=1-4) and a high caries group (DMFT ≥ 5). Th e contents of CCL28 and sIgA were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The contents of CCL28 and sIgA in saliva were (121.22 ± 32.63) pg/mL and (16.49 ± 8.02) μg/mL, respectively. A positive linear correlation was found between the CCL28 content and sIgA content in saliva (r=0.734). Th e CCL28 and sIgA contents in saliva were positively correlated with the degree of dental caries in children (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The dental decay of children leads to the secretion of chemokine CCL28, which promotes the secretion of sIgA in saliva.
Chemokines, CC ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; analysis ; Saliva ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDMacrophage stimulating protein (MSP) is produced by human bone marrow endothelial cells. In this study, we sought to observe its effects on inducing the expansion of early hematopoietic progenitor cells which were cultured in a liquid culture system in the presence of the combination of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), interleukin 6 (IL-6), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO) (Cys) and MSP or of Cys and bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (EC-CM).

METHODSHuman bone marrow CD34(+) cells were separated and cultured in a liquid culture system for 6 days. Granulocyte-macrophage colony forming unit (CFU-GM) and colony forming unit-granulocyte, erythrocyte, macrophage, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) were employed to assay the effects of different treatment on the proliferation of hematopoeitic stem/progenitor cells. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reductive test and hoechest 33258 staining were employed to reflect the differentiation and apoptosis of the cells respectively.

RESULTSMSP inhibited the proliferation of CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM in semi-solid culture and the inhibitory effect on CFU-GEMM was stronger than on CFU-GM. MSP inhibited the differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by hematopoietic stimulators. Bone marrow (BM) CFU-GEMM was 2.3-fold or 1.7-fold increase or significantly decreased in either Cys + EC-CM, Cys + MSP or Cys compared with 0 hour control in liquid culture system after 6 days.

CONCLUSIONMSP, a hematopoietic inhibitor, inhibits the differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by hematopoietic stimulators and makes the early hematopoietic progenitor cells expand in a liquid culture system.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokines, CC ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study in the linkage between eotaxin-3 gene polymorphisms and allergic asthma susceptivity, blood plasma IgE or peripheral blood eosinophil in adult population of Han nationality from Hubei province of China.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), tetra-primer PCR technique and restriction analysis were applied to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism.

RESULTSThe allele frequency of eotaxin-3 +2497 G, total levels of plasma IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil counts revealed the significant difference between control and allergic asthma group, that the P value was 0.011, 0.021 or 0.029 respectively. The allele frequency of eotaxin-3 +77 T and total levels of plasma IgE showed to have no significant difference between control and allergic asthma group, that the P value was 0.824 and 0.473 respectively. However, the peripheral blood eosinophil counts was significantly different between control and allergic asthma group, and the P value was 0.044.

CONCLUSIONSingle nucleotide polymorphism of eotaxin-3 +2497 is associated with the asthma susceptibility, peripheral eosinophil counts and total levels of plasma IgE in adult population from Hubei province, and polymorphism of +77 is associated with peripheral eosinophil counts.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asthma ; genetics ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Chemokine CCL26 ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study glomerular expression of C-C chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and beta (MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta) and the effect of steroid and cyclophosphamide (CTX) intermittent intravenous pulse therapy on expression in patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) to further investigate the underlying mechanism of the treatment.

METHODSTwelve patients with initial biopsy-proven CGN(2), 6 with lupus nephritis (lupus-CGN, LN-CGN) and 6 with vasculitis, (vasculitis-CGN, V-CGN) were enrolled in this study. They underwent an initial biopsy before steroid and CTX intermittent intravenous pulse therapy and were biopsied again one to three months later. Expression of MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and CD68 in glomeruli with cellular and fibrocellular crescents were examined by immunohistochemical analysis in serial sections of renal biopsies. The effect of the pulse therapy on histopathological changes was also observed.

RESULTSAlthough steroid and CTX intermittent intravenous pulse therapy markedly reduced the degree of glomerular crescent formation both in LN-CGN and V-CGN, the effect of the therapy on glomerular chemokine expression was significantly different between LN-CGN and V-CGN. It was found that steroid and CTX intermittent intravenous pulse therapy reduced the expression of CD68, MCP-1, and MIP-1alpha, but had no effect on MIP-1beta in glomeruli with cellular crescents of patients with LN-CGN. In patients with V-CGN, the therapy also reduced the expression of CD68, but had no effect on MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta in glomeruli with cellular crescents. It was noted that the degree of glomerulosclerosis and tubular interstitial fibrosis increased more significantly at the second biopsy in V-CGN as compared to LN-CGN.

CONCLUSIONSThe efficacy of steroid and CTX intermittent intravenous pulse therapy in CGN might be affected by reduction of glomerular chemokine expression. The different changes in glomerular expression of MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha in patients with LN-CGN and V-CGN after pulse therapy may correlate to different responses to treatment and prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Biopsy ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Chemokines, CC ; analysis ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; chemistry ; pathology ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged

Aminoquinolines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Cell Count ; Chemokine CCL17 ; Chemokine CCL22 ; Chemokines, CC ; analysis ; genetics ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish determination methods of eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the lung tissue of mice.

METHODSEotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expressions were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The functional implications of eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression were examined by detecting the numbers of total leucocytes and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).

RESULTEotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in lung tissue total numbers of leucocyte and numbers of eosinophil in BALF increased in sensitized mice compared with those in normal mice. Dexamethasone significantly but did not inhibit eotaxin mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expressions, and eosinophil infiltration in the lungs of the sensitized mice. A compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine inhibited eotaxin mRNA and eosinophil infiltration, influenced TNF-alpha mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONIncreased eotaxin mRNA expression in lung tissue is associated with eosinophil infiltration in BALF, which indicates that the methods of semi-quantitative RT-PCR may be useful to the study of the mechanism of antiasthmatic medicine.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Leukocyte Count ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Chemokines and chemokine receptors play a role in migration of circulating leukocytes to the region of inflammation. Human LZIP is an uncharacterized transcription factor and is known to participate in leukotactin (Lkn)-1/CCL15-induced cell migration. We investigated the role of human LZIP in expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) and its involvement in monocyte migration. RNase protection analysis showed that LZIP increased mRNA expression of CCR2 and CCR1 in THP-1 cells. Surface expressions of both CCR2 and CCR1 were also increased by LZIP. Results from an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that LZIP binds to the C/EBP element in the CCR2 promoter. LZIP also enhanced the chemotactic activities of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL2 and Lkn-1. These results suggest that LZIP regulates expression of chemokine receptors that are involved in monocyte migration.
Atherosclerosis/drug therapy/etiology ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects/*physiology ; Chemokine CCL2/*pharmacology ; Chemokines, CC/pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding ; Humans ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins/pharmacology ; Monocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Receptors, CCR1/biosynthesis/genetics ; Receptors, CCR2/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation/drug effects ; Transfection ; Transgenes

BACKGROUNDKeshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The etiology of KD is still under debate and there is no effective approach to preventing and curing this disease. Young women of child-bearing age are the most frequent victims in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between molecular pathogenic mechanisms in male and female KD sufferers.

METHODSWe extracted RNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of KD patients (12 women and 4 men) and controls (12 women and 4 men). Then the isolated RNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized to Agilent human 4×44k whole genome microarrays. Gene expression was examined using oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was also performed to validate our microarray results.

RESULTSAmong the genes differentially expressed in female KD patients we identified: HLA-DOA, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DQA1 associated with spontaneous autoimmunity; BMP5 and BMP7, involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation defect; and ADAMTS 8, CCL23, and TNFSF15, implicated in anti-angiogenic activities. These genes are involved in the canonical pathways and networks recognized for the female KD sufferers and might be related to the pathogenic mechanism of KD.

CONCLUSIONOur results might help to explain the higher susceptibility of women to this disease.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; ADAMTS Proteins ; Adult ; Autoimmunity ; genetics ; physiology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5 ; genetics ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; HLA-D Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; genetics ; HLA-DR alpha-Chains ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sex Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15 ; genetics