Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; secretion ; Ubiquitin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of FK506 on cytokine secretions in whole blood from healthy individuals.

METHODSBlood samples collected from healthy volunteers were co-cultured with different concentrations of FK506 and stimulated with PMA and IONO. The concentrations of 8 cytokines including IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF and G-CSF were detected by Bio-Plex suspension system.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, high-concentration FK506 (20 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the secretions of IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF and G-CSF. At a moderate concentration (5 ng/ml), FK506 inhibited the secretion of GM-CSF significantly.

CONCLUSIONFK506 effectively inhibits the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and also the secretion of IL-2, IL-12, IL-17, GM-CSF and G-CSF. FK506 might play the role of immunosuppression by inhibiting the production of these cytokines by the immune cells. Monitoring the levels of these cytokines might be a potential method for evaluating the adequacy of FK506 doses administered.

Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; secretion ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; secretion ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; secretion ; Male ; Tacrolimus ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; secretion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the difference in NK cell subsets between recombination human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) mobilized peripheral blood grafts (G-PB) and bone marrow grafts (G-BM) from healthy donors.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to September 2009, G-PB and G-BM from 28 related donors were collected to analyze lymphocytes, NK cells and NK cell secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ, NK1), interleukin-13 (IL-13, NK2), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10, NKr) by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe percentage of lymphocytes in G-PB was significantly higher than that in G-BM (P < 0.01). The proportions of NK cells and NK1, NK2, NKr subsets among lymphocytes were significantly higher in G-BM than in G-PB (P < 0.05), and so were the percentage of NK2, NKr cells among NK cells (P < 0.01), but no significant difference in the percentage of NK1 cells among NK cells between G-PB and G-BM. The ratios of IL-13 and IFN-γ, of TGF-β and IFN-γ, or of IL-10 and IFN-γ in G-BM were significantly higher than those in G-PB (P = 0.010, 0.002, or 0.000, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe increased proportion of NK2 and NKr in G-BM might be helpful to explain the lower immunoreactivity of G-BM than that of G-PB, although the proportion of NK1 in G-BM and G-PB is similar.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Donors ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Child ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; secretion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) on the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and airway inflammation in mice with exacerbated asthma induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

METHODSThirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the PBS control group, OVA group, OVA/RSV group, and OVA/RSV/polyI:C group. In the latter 3 groups, the mice were sensitized by OVA and stimulated with nebulized OVA. RSV was inoculated into the nasal cavity of the sensitized mice and polyI:C (1 mg/kg) was intramuscularly administered. The airway response to metacholine was examined, and the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ and TSLP in the supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected using ELISA. The total BALF cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils were counted. The lung specimens were collected to observe the inflammation with HE staining, and immunohistochemistry was employed to determine TSLP production in the airway epithelial cells.

RESULTSThe mice in RSV/OVA/polyI:C group showed a significantly lower airway responsiveness to metacholine than those in OVA/RSV group (P<0.01). Compared with OVA/RSV group, RSV/OVA/polyI:C group showed significantly lower serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TSLP in BALF (P<0.05), with also lower total BALF cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes (P<0.05) and lessened infiltration of the airway inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemistry of TSLP also demonstrated a lower production of TSLP in the airway epithelial cells in RSV/OVA/polyI:C group than in OVA/RSV group.

CONCLUSIONSpolyI:C can inhibit the increase in TSLP production in the airway epithelial cells after RSV infection and relieve airway inflammation in mice with RSV-induced asthma exacerbation.

Animals ; Asthma ; blood ; metabolism ; virology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Female ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Interleukin-13 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-5 ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Poly I-C ; pharmacology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; blood ; metabolism ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

In order to get a better understanding of the role of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) in type 2 helper T (Th2) cell responses against Trichinella spiralis infection, we analyzed Th2 responses in T. spiralis-infected PAR2 knockout (KO) mice. The levels of the Th2 cell-secreted cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were markedly reduced in the PAR2 KO mice as compared to the wild type mice following infection with T. spiralis. The serum levels of parasite-specific IgE increased significantly in the wild type mice as the result of T. spiralis infection, but this level was not significantly increased in PAR2 KO mice. The expression level of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25, and eotaxin gene (the genes were recently known as Th2 response initiators) of mouse intestinal epithelial cells were increased as the result of treatment with T. spiralis excretory-secretory proteins. However, the expression of these chemokine genes was inhibited by protease inhibitor treatments. In conclusion, PAR2 might involve in Th2 responses against T. spiralis infection.
Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Chemokine CCL11/biosynthesis ; Cytokines/biosynthesis ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Interleukin-13/secretion ; Interleukin-4/secretion ; Interleukin-5/secretion ; Interleukins/biosynthesis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Receptor, PAR-2/*metabolism ; Th2 Cells/*immunology ; Trichinella spiralis/*immunology ; Trichinellosis/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Th1/Th2 balance in asthmatic mice.

METHODSThirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the PBS group, ovalbumin (OVA) group, RSV group and OVA/RSV group. The mice were sensitized by OVA and then stimulated with nebulized OVA, and RSV was inoculated into the nasal cavity of the mice. BUXCO noninvasive lung function detection was performed to examine the airway response to metacholine, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma in the mice. The cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and classified, and the supernatants of the BALF were used for the detection of TSLP. Histopathological changes in the lung tissues of the mice were examined using HE staining, and immunohistochemistry using anti-mouse TSLP antibody was performed to examine TSLP expressions in the airway epithelial cells.

RESULTSRSV infection promoted the production of TSLP in the asthmatic mice, and the concentration of TSLP in OVA/RSV group (2.13-/+0.05 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the other groups (P<0.01). RSV infection increased the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma in the mice. The total BALF cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils in OVA/RSV group were significantly higher than those in the other groups; noninvasive lung function examination showed higher Penh value in OVA/RSV group (318.66-/+50.87) than in the other groups when the inhaled metacholine increased to 6.25 mg/ml (P<0.01). More obvious and extensive airway inflammatory cell infiltration in OVA/RSV group were observed, and immunohistochemical staining also showed higher expression of TSLP in the airway epithelial cells of OVA/RSV group.

CONCLUSIONSRSV infection promotes the production of TSLP in the airway epithelial cells and increases the level of Th2 cytokines in asthmatic mice. Concurrent RSV infection can exacerbate Th2 inflammatory reaction in asthmatic mice.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; secretion ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; immunology ; virology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Lung ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; virology

Dendritic cells have been known as a member of strong innate immune cells against infectious organelles. In this study, we evaluated the cytokine expression of splenic dendritic cells in chronic mouse toxoplasmosis by tissue cyst-forming Me49 strain and demonstrated the distribution of lymphoid dendritic cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 increased rapidly at week 1 post-infection (PI) and peaked at week 3 PI. Serum IL-10 level followed the similar patterns. FACS analysis showed that the number of CD8alpha+/CD11c+ splenic dendritic cells increased at week 1 and peaked at week 3 PI. In conclusion, mouse splenic dendritic cells showed early and rapid cytokine changes and may have important protective roles in early phases of murine toxoplasmosis.
Animals ; Antigens, CD11c/analysis ; Antigens, CD8/analysis ; Cytokines/*blood/*secretion ; Dendritic Cells/chemistry/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flow Cytometry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rodent Diseases/immunology ; Spleen/*immunology ; Time Factors ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between four cytokines in serum and prostatic fluid and chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP).

METHODSThe levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected in 86 patients with CAP [CAP I (n = 60), WBC > or = 10/HP; CAP II (n = 26, WBC < 10/HP)], and 20 healthy males as control by ELISA.

RESULTSIL-2, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in serum and prostatic fluid, and IL-4 in serum in patients with CAP I were markedly higher than those in the control, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in IL-4 level in prostatic fluid among CAP I, CAP II and control groups respectively (P > 0.05), and in IL-2, IL4, TNF-alpha in serum and prostatic fluid between CAP II group and the control (P > 0.05). IL-8 was correlated with WBC number in prostatic fluid (r = 0.62, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-2, IL-8, TNF-alpha may play roles in the process of pathogenesis of CAP, and they have applicable value in the diagnosis and typing of CAP.

Adult ; Bodily Secretions ; chemistry ; Chronic Disease ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; secretion ; Prostatitis ; blood ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; blood ; secretion ; Fas Ligand Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; immunology ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; blood ; immunology ; fas Receptor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism