Whether we are aware or not, diverse microorganisms are living on almost all environmentally exposed surfaces on our body without eliciting harmful immune responses. In fact, recent understanding from numerous studies indicates that our health is highly dependent on the contribution of intestinal commensal bacteria. It appears through its symbiotic interaction with the host, which is the result of millions of years of co-evolution, the microbiota shapes the immune system. In this review, we discuss the relationship between host physiology and commensal bacteria and explore the molecular mechanisms by which the adaptive immune system is influenced by the intestinal microbiota.
Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Immune System* ; Microbiota* ; Physiology

microRNAs function as effective molecules in regulation of many biological functions of organisms; in most case they regulate gene expression moderately. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs play a key role in the regulation of immunological functions including innate and adaptive immune responses. The research on microRNAs would be helpful in elucidation of the mechanisms of human immune system and in development of potential therapies based on microRNAs.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Immune System ; physiology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo adopt a criterion summarized in long-term practice to judge the immune status of recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) patients, and to analyze its rationality and feasibility.

METHODS60 cases were included, whose clinical information, such as age, sex, constitution status, history of system diseases and severity of ulceration were collected. The subjective judgement results of the immune status were obtained according to the criterion summarized in clinical practice. At the same time, peripheral blood parameters about immune function were examined in order to obtain the objective examination results of the immune status. With the examination result as the gold standard, the rationality of the criterion was estimated through its sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTSAccording to subjective judgment, there were 86.67% cases with abnormal immune status (28.33% cases with elevated immune status, and 58.33% cases with reduced immune status). According to objective examination, there were 93.33% cases with abnormal immune status (23.33% cases with elevated immune status, and 70.00% cases with reduced immune status. Sensitivity and specificity were 89.29% and 50.00% when the criterion was used to judge immune abnormality, 42.86% and 76.09% when the criterion was used to judge immune elevation, and 64.29% and 55.56% when the criterion was used to judge immune reduction.

CONCLUSIONIt is of some rationality and feasibility to judge the immune status according to the criterion based on clinical information, and the criterion can be used in small clinics.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; physiology ; Male ; Stomatitis, Aphthous

Stress or neuroendocrine response usually occurs soon after trauma, which is central to the maintenance of post-traumatic homeostasis. Immune inflammatory response has been recognized to be a key element both in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic complications and in tissue repair. Despite the existence of multiple and intricate interconnected neuroendocrine pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system have been considered to be the most important in trauma. Although the short-term and appropriate activation of these stress responses is vital to the host's adaptation, prolonged duration and exaggerative magnitude of their activity leads to deleterious effects on immune function in trauma, causing immune dissonance. The overall appropriate and controlled activation and termination of the neuroendocrine responses that mediate the necessary physiological functions involved in maintaining and restoring homeostasis in the event of trauma are of critical importance. This review will describe the effects of some important neuroendocrine responses on immune system. Present evidences indicate that the neuroendocrine and immune systems form a cohesive and integrated early host response to trauma, and identify areas for further research to fully elucidate the regulatory role of neuroendocrine system in trauma.
Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; physiology ; Immune System ; physiology ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; physiology ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; physiology ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiology

Child ; Digestive System ; metabolism ; Glutamine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immune System ; metabolism ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; physiology

The studying on interrelation and interaction among blood-vessel network, nerve network and immune network is considered to be the key to reveal the mechanism of acupuncture treatment and the essence of meridians. A strip-like compound structure of mast cells, blood vessel and nerve network is observed in acupoint area. From its systematics nature and correlation with acupuncture effect and meridian phenomena, it is believed that the structure of mast cells, blood vessel and nerve network is an interactive system with interrelation and interaction among each other, and is an essential site and pivot to produce and transport matter, energy and information, and is the core structure of acupoint.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; physiology ; Humans ; Immune System ; immunology ; Meridians ; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena

Cytokines are the main regulatory molecules of not only immune system but also sleep system. Research on the role of cytokines on sleep has greatly been expanding since the first report of sleep-promoting effects of interleukin-1, the first cytokine molecule. Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor are most widely studied among various cytokines. Studies over about twenty years demonstrate that most cytokines promote sleep but several cytokines inhibit sleep. Slow wave sleep is the main part that cytokines have effects on. Besides normal sleep physiology, cytokines have more major roles on pathophysiology of various sleep disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea is the representative sleep disorder that shows how deeply cytokines are involved in their pathophysiologic mechanisms of sleep disorders. Though there are many controversial issues on this topic, more mysterious part of normal sleep physiology and sleep disorders will be revealed in near future through thorough studies on sleep and cytokine.
Cytokines ; Immune System ; Interleukin-1 ; Physiology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo review the senescent remodeling of the immune system with aging and its relevance to the increased susceptibility of the elderly to infectious diseases, along with an outlook on emerging immunological biomarkers.

DATA SOURCESThe data selected were from PubMed with relevant published articles in English or French from 1995 to the present. Searches were made using the terms "immunosenescence" and "aging" paired with the following: "innate immunity", "T-cell", "B-cell", "adaptive immunity" and "biomarkers". Articles were reviewed for additional citations and some information was gathered from web searches.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles on aging of both the innate and adaptive immunity were reviewed, with special attention to the remodeling effect on the ability of the immune system to fight infectious diseases. Articles related to biomarkers of immunosenescence were selected with the goal of identifying immunological biomarkers predisposing the elderly to infections.

RESULTSInnate immunity is generally thought to be relatively well preserved or enhanced during aging compared with adaptive immunity which manifests more profound alterations. However, evidence, particularly in the last decade, reveals that both limbs of the immune system undergo profound remodeling with aging. Reported data on adaptive immunity is consistent and changes are well established but conflicting results about innate immunity were reported between in vivo and in vitro studies, as well as between murine and human studies. Epidemiological data suggests increased predisposition of the elderly to infections, but no compelling scientific evidence has directly linked senescent immune remodeling to this increased susceptibility. Recently, growing interest in identifying immunological biomarkers and defining "immune risk phenotypes/profiles" (IRP) has been expressed. Identification of biomarkers is in its early days and few potential biomarkers have been identified, with the Swedish having defined one IRP based on the adaptive immune response.

CONCLUSIONSAging does not necessarily lead to an unavoidable decline in immune functions. Instead, a complex remodeling occurs. Despite the lack of compelling scientific evidence, senescent immune remodeling surely is a significant contributing factor to the increased risk and severity of infections in the elderly. Although, no immunological biomarker has been formally linked to the increased risk of infections in the elderly, biomarkers remain a promising tool to predict the likelihood of healthy aging, the level of immune competence, and mortality risk in the elderly. Hence, more research is required to define healthy aging and identify immunological biomarkers.

Adaptive Immunity ; immunology ; Aging ; immunology ; physiology ; Animals ; Humans ; Immune System ; immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; immunology ; Infection ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of long time cruising on fishermen' immune function and nutrition state.

METHODSThirty-two fishermen's lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin, alexin, prealbumin, albumin, blood fat, hemoglobin serum iron, transferrin were tested before and after cruising.

RESULTSThe expression of CD-19 was significantly higher after cruising (P < 0.001) while other cell immune functions were not significantly changed. After cruising, the immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, alexin C3, B, prealbumin, albumin, transferrin were higher than before cruising (P < 0.001). HDL-C was higher (P < 0.05); Apo-B, and serum iron were lower (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe cruising fishermen' immune function is changed significantly; the nutrition state is good, but the serum iron is insufficient and in subclinical state.

Adult ; Fisheries ; Humans ; Immune System ; physiology ; Iron ; deficiency ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status

Recent studies suggest that vitamin D is related to allergic rhinitis (AR). In this review, we first discuss the physiology and metabolism of vitamin D, then we review the function of vitamin D in the immune system, and above all, we highlight the current research regarding the role of vitamin D in AR. Finally, we find that there are both experimental and clinical studies showing that vitamin D is associated with AR, although the results are not consistent and even conflicting. Evidences from those clinical studies show a slightly tendency that serum vitamin D level might be inversely associated with the risk of AR. Meanwhile, it seems that gender and age may influence the relationship between vitamin D and AR. However, because of the heterogeneity in defining AR, differences in study design and so on, all these findings need to be confirmed by further studies. Additional clinical studies as well as experimental research are needed to better understand how vitamin D influences AR.
Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Metabolism ; Physiology ; Population Characteristics ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins