Animals ; Asthma ; etiology ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Mice

Antigen Presentation ; Asthma ; blood ; etiology ; therapy ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Humans

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is a major prostanoid, produced mainly by mast cells, in allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma. PGD2-induced vasodilatation and increased permeability are well-known classical effects that may be involved in allergic inflammation. Recently, novel functions of PGD2 have been identified. To date, D prostanoid receptor (DP) and chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells (CRTH2) have been shown to be major PGD2-related receptors. These two receptors have pivotal roles mediating allergic diseases by regulating the functions of various cell types, such as TH2 cells, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, and epithelial cells. This review will focus on the current understanding of the roles of PGD2 and its metabolites in TH2 inflammation and the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.
Asthma/*etiology/immunology ; Basophils/physiology ; Eosinophils/physiology ; Humans ; Mast Cells/physiology ; Prostaglandin D2/*physiology ; Receptors, Immunologic/physiology ; Receptors, Prostaglandin/physiology ; Th2 Cells/*immunology

OBJECTIVETo examine the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the induced sputum of children with cough variant asthma (CVA), with the aim of studying the roles of NGF and IL-4 in childhood CVA.

METHODSThirty-four children with CVA were enrolled in this study. Twenty healthy children were used as a normal control group. The induced sputum was separated into supernatant and cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to count differential cells. The expression of NGF and IL-4 in supernatant was measured using ELISA. The mRNA expression of NGF and IL-4 in cells was determined by Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of eosinophils in the CVA group was significantly higher than in the control group [(13.4±3.6)% vs (2.6±1.7)%; P<0.01]. The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly higher in the CVA group than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA was positively correlated with the percentage of eosinophils (P<0.01). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly reduced in the CVA group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEosinophils infiltration and increased expression of NGF and IL-4 play key roles in the development of childhood CVA, suggesting that they may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood CVA.

Asthma ; complications ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; etiology ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Sputum ; metabolism

We have occasionally experienced eosinophilic abscess of the liver in patients with gastric carcinoma, suggesting that some eosinophil mobilizing (chemotactic and proliferative) factors might be produced by carcinoma cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not gastric carcinoma expresses the well-known eosinophil chemotactic factors (ECFs) and whether or not the expression is related to the histologic subtypes. Seventeen consecutive surgically removed tumor-bearing stomachs were collected: 7 signet ring cell type, 7 poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and 3 moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections were re-evaluated for eosinophil and mast cell infiltration. The expression of IL-2, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were examined by immunocytochemical stain. There was no available frozen tissue for IL-2 and IL-5 in one case. Gastric carcinoma expressed IL-2 in all 16 cases, IL-5 in 12 of 16 cases and GM-CSF in 10 of 17 cases. Of particular interest, 7 of 10 GM-CSF-expressing carcinomas were signet ring cell type. Even in the remaining 3 cases, most GM-CSF-positive cells were signet ring cells scattered within tubular adenocarcinoma. No correlation of ECF expression between either eosinophil/mast cell infiltration or peripheral blood eosinophilia was identified. In conclusion, most gastric carcinomas express the well-known ECFs and the expression of GM-CSF is specific for signet ring carcinoma cells.
Cell Movement/physiology ; Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil/metabolism* ; Eosinophils/physiology ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mast Cells/physiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo examine fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values in 1-3-year-old children with asthma and analyze the correlation of FeNO with peripheral blood eosinophils (EOS) and lung function in these children.

METHODSA total of 111 children aged 1-3 years with asthma were enrolled. The children were classified into acute exacerbation (n=62) and remission groups (n=49) according to their symptoms. FeNO values, lung function, and peripheral blood EOS count were measured in these children. Sixty age-matched healthy children were enrolled as the control group.

RESULTSFeNO values were significantly higher in the acute exacerbation group (24.4 ppb) than in the remission group (18.0 ppb) and the control group (13.7 ppb) (P<0.05). The FeNO values in the remission group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). FeNO values were not significantly correlated with peripheral blood EOS count and lung function parameters (PEF, TEF25, TEF50, and TEF75).

CONCLUSIONSMeasurement of FeNO is useful to evaluate the disease activity in children with asthma aged 1 to 3 years, but the FeNO values are not correlated with peripheral blood EOS count and lung function.

Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the value of eosinophils (EOS) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in nasopharyngeal secretions in the evaluation of progress of wheezing in children under 5 years old.

METHODSFifty-three children under five years old who had recurrent wheezing were classified into two groups: wheezing group I with atopic body (n=27) and wheezing group II without atopic body (n=26). Twenty pre-surgical children with non-infectious disease were used as the control group. Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected. Inflammatory cells in nasopharyngeal secretions were counted under the microscope. IL-17 levels in supernatants were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSEOS counts in nasopharyngeal secretions in wheezing group I were significantly higher than those in wheezing group II and the control group (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). There were no significant differences in EOS counts between wheezing II and the control groups. The IL-17 levels in both wheezing groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.01), and the wheezing group I had increased IL-17 levels than wheezing group II (1 474+/-974 pg/mL vs 788+/-132 pg/mL; p<0.05). The IL-17 level was positively correlated with the EOS counts in wheezing group I (r=0.62, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEOS counts and IL-17 levels in nasopharyngeal secretions may be used as indices for identifying the tendency to develop asthma in children under 5 years old with wheezing.

Child, Preschool ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; secretion ; Respiratory Sounds ; immunology

OBJECTIVEIt is known that Siglec-8 is selectively expressed on human eosinophils at a high level and mediates eosinophil apoptosis when crosslinked with its antibody. The aim of our review is to elucidate the molecular and biological characteristic of Siglec-8 and then discuss the function and possible mechanisms of Siglec-8 in eosinophils. Thereby, we will expand our understanding to the regulation of eosinophil apoptosis, and provide important clues to the treatment of asthma and other hyper-eosinophilic diseases.

DATA SOURCESMost articles were identified by searching of PubMed online resources using the key term Siglecs.

STUDY SELECTIONMainly original milestone articles and critical reviews written by major pioneer investigators in the field were selected.

RESULTSSiglec-8 is selectively expressed on human eosinophil and can specifically induce eosinophil apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThe restricted expression of Siglec-8 on human eosinophil and the rapid progress in understanding its role as cell signaling and activation of death receptors have made it an attractive target for treatment of asthma and other hyper-eosinophilic diseases.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Asthma ; metabolism ; therapy ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and peripheral blood eosinophils (EOS) as well as the correlation between the two markers in children with bronchial asthma (AS),AS complicated by allergic rhinitis (AS/AR) and chronic cough variant asthma (CVA), in order to explore the value of eNOS detection in children with AS.

METHODSThe eNO level was measured using light-emitting electrochemical photometry in 12 children with AS, 29 children with AS/AR and 10 children with CVA. Peripheral blood EOS was counted by blood cell counter (Coulter JT). Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was assessed by lung function measurement. Thirty children without atopic disease and acute respiratory infection as well as without a family history of atopic diseasea served as the control group.

RESULTSThe levels of eNO and blood EOS in the AS, the AS/AR and the CVA groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). The AS/AR group showed increased levels of eNO (50.3 + or - 6.7 ppb) and EOS (5.9 + or -4.2 x 109 ) compared with the AS (30.5 + or - 8.8 ppb and 4.2 + or - 3.2 x 109 respectively) and the CVA groups (26.0 + or - 3.2 ppb and 3.7 + or - 6.9 x 109 respectively) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in eNO and EOS levels between the AS and the CVA groups. The eNO level was positively correlated with the EOS level (r=0.51, p<0.05), but not with FEV1 (r=0.144, p>0.05) in the AS group.

CONCLUSIONSNO is highly expressed in children with symptoms of atopy and can reflect the levels of eosinophilic airway inflammation in children with AS.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Eosinophil degranulation is considered to be a key effector function for the killing of helminthic worms and tissue inflammation at worm-infected lesion sites. However, relatively little data are available with regard to eosinophil response after stimulation with worm-secreted products which contain a large quantity of cysteine proteases. In this study, we attempted to determine whether the degranulation of human eosinophils could be induced by the direct stimulation of the excretory-secretory products (ESP) of Paragonimus westermani, which causes pulmonary paragonimiasis in human beings. Incubation of eosinophils for 3 hr with Paragonimus-secreted products resulted in marked degranulation, as evidenced by the release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) in the culture supernatants. Moreover, superoxide anion was produced by eosinophils after stimulation of the ESP. The ESP-induced EDN release was found to be significantly inhibited when the ESP was pretreated with protease inhibitor cocktail or the cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64. These findings suggest that human eosinophils become degranulated in response to P. westermani-secreted proteases, which may contribute to in vivo tissue inflammation around the worms.
Animals ; *Cell Degranulation ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/metabolism/*physiology ; Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin/metabolism ; Eosinophils/*physiology ; Humans ; Paragonimus westermani/*enzymology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Time Factors