Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as its association with serum total IgE levels and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Symptom scores were evaluated in 46 AR patients, expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry, and serum total IgE levels were determined by immune chemiluminescence. Thirty two healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. RESULT: The percentage of CD23+, CD19+ and CD23+/ CD19+,on peripheral blood lymphocytes in AR patients were 11.6 +/- 1. , 22.8 +/- 3.3,10.2 +/- 1.7, respectively. Higher frequencies of CD23+, CD19+, and CD23+/CD19+ were found in AR patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between expression rates of CD23+, CD19+, CD23+/CD19+ and levels of serum total IgE, nasal allergic symptom scores, respectively. CD23+/CD19+ demonstrated greater correlations with serum total IgE and nasal allergic symptom (r = 0.65 and 0.49, P < 0.05) than CD23+ and CD19+ did. Correlation between CD23+/CD19+ and nasal allergic symptom scores was greater than the corresponding correlations of serum total IgE (r = 0.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CD23 and CD19 are important factors that associated with serum total IgE in the pathogenesis of AR, Analysis on the expression of CD23+/CD19+ on peripheral blood lymphocytes is helpful for evaluating the severity of AR.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, IgE ; blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the levels of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with asthma whose have different serum levels of 25-hydroxyl-vitamin D₃[25(OH)D₃].

METHODSFifty children with asthma between January 2013 and December 2014 were enrolled as the asthma group, and they were classified into 25(OH)D₃sufficient (n=7), insufficient (n=12) and deficient subgroups (n=31) according to the serum levels of 25(OH)D₃. Twenty children with abnormal airway or tracheal foreign bodies served as the control group. The levels of 25(OH)D₃, Gal-3 and total IgE in serum and Gal-3 levels in BALF were measured using ELISA.

RESULTThe serum levels of 25(OH)D₃in the asthma group were lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The 25(OH)D₃deficient subgroup displayed the highest percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF, followed by the 25(OH)D₃insufficient subgroup and the 25(OH)D₃sufficient subgroup (P<0.05). The percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF in the three subgroups were all higher than in the control group (P<0.05). In children with asthma, serum levels of 25(OH)D₃were negatively correlated with the percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF (r=-0.683, -0.795 and -0.670 respectively; P<0.05); and a negative correlation was also seen between serum 25(OH)D₃levels and serum Gal-3 and total IgE levels (r=-0.759 and -0.875 respectively; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe children with asthma have low serum levels of 25(OH)D₃. 25(OH)D₃and Gal-3 may be involved in the airway inflammation and the development of asthma.

Asthma ; etiology ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Galectin 3 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; physiology

Although rabbits are common domestic pets, severe respiratory allergic reactions to rabbits in households are unusual. Ory c 1, a 17-kDa glycoprotein found in saliva and fur, has previously been identified as a major rabbit allergen. In this report, we describe the cases of three patients with rabbit allergy who presented with asthma and/or rhinitis while living in households with detectable levels of serum-specific IgE and major IgE binding components. Three patients with rabbit allergy and 18 unexposed nonatopic healthy controls were enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for serum-specific IgE and IgG4 to rabbit epithelium and inhibition ELISA were performed followed by sodium dodecye sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and IgE immunoblotting. All three patients with rabbit allergy had high serum-specific IgE antibody levels compared with controls. The results of the inhibition ELISA showed significant inhibition with the addition of rabbit epithelium, whereas no significant inhibition was noted with the addition of cat and dog epithelia. Two IgE-binding components with molecular weights of 16 kDa and 67.5 kDa were identified by IgE immunoblotting. In conclusion, rabbit exposure may induce IgE-mediated bronchial asthma and/or rhinitis in domestic settings.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens/*blood ; Animals ; Asthma/*immunology/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology/metabolism ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood/*chemistry ; Immunoglobulin G/chemistry ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rhinitis/*immunology/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of T lymphocytes activation co-stimulation pathway and T lymphocyte subset activation in asthma pathogenesis.

METHODSThe blood samples were taken from 35 asthma children (including 22 male and 13 female, age 11 months-9 years) and 31 normal children (including 19 male and 12 female, age 8 months-12 years). Direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to detect the CD86 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on CD(14)(+) cell, CD(19)(+) cell percentage and CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage in PBMC activated by LPS. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma in culture supernatants of PBMC stimulated with PHA and plasma total IgE level.

RESULTS(1) The CD86 MFI on CD(14)(+) cell in asthma group was elevated significantly (31.8 +/- 9.2 vs 23.5 +/- 6.4, P < 0.01). (2) CD(19)(+) cell percentage and CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage in PBMC stimulated with LPS in asthma group were increased significantly (13.5 +/- 4.0 and 4.6 +/- 2.0 vs. 8.2 +/- 3.0 and 2.3 +/- 1.4, respectively, P < 0.01). The plasma total IgE level [186.6 (64.3 - 723.6)] was higher than that of control's [41.95 (0.9 - 115.2)]. (3) The levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in supernatants stimulated with PHA increased significantly [34.2 (2.8 - 70.0) and 1 239.0 (378.3 - 2 929.0) vs. 9.7 (2.0 - 46.2) and 683.2 (128.8 - 1 560.8) respectively, P < 0.01, P < 0.05]; and the level of IFN-gamma decreased significantly [12.16 (1.6 - 44.8) vs. 26.7 (2.1 - 99.5) P < 0.05]. (4) In asthma group there was a significantly positive correlation of CD86 MFI on CD(14)(+) cell with CD19 and CD86 double positive cell percentage (r = 0.644), there was a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)CD(86)(+)cells percentage with plasma total IgE (r = 0.537); there was a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)cells percentage with the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 (r = 0.607, 0.540 respectively); a significantly positive correlation of CD(19)(+)CD(86)(+) percentage cells with the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 was found (r = 0.617, 0.678, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The expression of CD86 on APC cells increased in children with acute asthma. (2) The response to mitogens of B lymphocyte and T(H2) but not T(H1) lymphocyte were increased significantly. The results suggest that CD86 and imbalance of T(H) subset may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Asthma ; blood ; metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Monocytes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L in T and B lymphocytes as well as its relations with total IgE (TIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). The effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) on them were also investigated. METHOD: Thirty allergic allergic rhinitis patients were chosen as observation group, and 30 healthy patients as control group. Cytofluorometric analysis was used to compare the expression level of CD28/B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in the two groups. The relationship between the CD28/ B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L expression level and serum Total IgE, ECP level were analyzed. RESULT: The expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in allergic rhinitis patients were significantly higher than in the healthy, and serum level of TIgE has a positive relationship with the expression level of CD40L on T cells. ECP has a positive relationship with the expression level of B7-2 on B cells. The expression level of B7-1 showed no significant difference between the two groups. After specific immunotherapy for 6 months, the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells were decreased in allergic rhinitis patients but still higher than in healthy. CONCLUSIONS The upregulated level of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7-2 and CD40/ CD40L on T cells and B cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, specific immunotherapy can downregulate the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L, and decrease the serum level of TIgE, it may be a possible mechanism in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD40 Ligand ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

AIMTo help clarifying the possibility of connective-tissue diseases in men with penile or testicular prostheses.

METHODSEight patients underwent inflatable penile prostheses and 15, testicular prostheses consented to the study. Their medical records were reviewed and a follow-up interview and physical and serological examinations were performed.

RESULTSIn patients with penile prostheses, there was no abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA) or IgM elevation. The serum levels of the rheumatoid factor (RF), C4, IgA and IgG were abnormal in one patient, and the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C3, abnormal in two. Four had elevated IgE. In patients with testicular prostheses, there was no abnormal RF, ANA or IgM. The serum levels of ESR and IgA were abnormal in two, and three had abnormal C4, ten abnormal C3, and eleven decreased IgG. All had increased IgE. Men with penile prostheses had higher serum levels of IgG and IgM than those with testicular prostheses (P=0.001, P=0.016, respectively). The rates of abnormal values of IgE and IgG were higher in men with testicular prostheses than in men with penile prostheses (P=0.008, P=0.009, respectively). Physical examination was normal in all patients and nobody had documented symptoms pertinent to connective-tissue diseases.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that the risk of connective-tissue diseases is not higher in patients wearing prostheses as the ANA is negative and there is no apparent manifestation suggestive of connective-tissue diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Sedimentation ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Complement C4 ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Pilot Projects ; Risk Factors ; Silicon ; adverse effects ; immunology

To evaluate the in vivo effect of autologous serum including antibodies to house dust mite in atopic individuals, we observed the immediate (15 mins) and late (6 hours) skin reactions (ISR, LSR) on intradermal (ID) test of serially diluted Dermatophagoides farinae antigens (DFa, Allergopharma, Germany) mixed with autologous sera (DFa-S) and diluent alone (DFa-D). We tested 34 DFa-skin reactive atopic individuals including 12 asthmatics (BA), 8 asthmatics on immunotherapy with DFa (IT), and 14 healthy atopic controls (AC). We observed complete inhibition of ISR in the lowest allergen dose of DFa-S in 7 (58.3%) of 12 BA, 3 (37.5%) of 8 IT, and 2 (14.3%) of 14 AC. In BA, the inhibition of ISR was more frequent than AC (p< 0.05). We observed larger late reactions in half of LSR positive cases on ID test by DFa-S than by DFa-D (> or = 1.5 X size; accentuation of LSR). Accentuation of LSR were shown more frequently by DFa mixed with larger amount of serum (25% in 1:1 mix; 80% in 1:3 mix, p< 0.05). But there were no differences of DFa-specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies regardless of the inhibition of ISR or the accentuation of LSR. In conclusion, some autologous sera from DFa-sensitive individuals showed the inhibition of ISR and the accentuation of LSR on DFa-ID test.
Animal ; *Blood Physiology ; Dermatitis, Atopic/blood/*immunology ; Human ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed/*immunology ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin E/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G/metabolism ; Intradermal Tests ; Mites/*immunology ; Skin/*immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVEInvestigating the distribution of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV-IgG), anti-human papillomavirus (HPV L1-IgG) and risk factors among female residents in Xinmi County, to explore the influencing factors of HPV vaccine study using HEV vaccinated population as a control.

METHODSA screening study of cervical cancer in Xinmi County, Henan Province, was performed. The information of demographic characteristics and risk factors was collected using standard questionnaire. Nine ml blood was drawn from each woman for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect HEV-IgG and HPV L1-IgG antibody. Percentile, histogram and binary logistic regression model were used to describe the distribution of risk factors and their correlation to HPV and HEV infection.

RESULTSThe average age of the Xinmi female residents was 47.2 years, their positive rate of HPV L1 antibody was 26.8%, and that of HEV-IgG antibody was 31.0%, both of which were raised with age (P < 0.001). Single factor analysis showed that non-education, low-income and growing age were associated with HEV-IgG antibody positivity, and non-education, lowering ages of first sexual life and growing age were associated with HPV L1-IgG antibody positivity. Multivariable analysis showed that growing age, low-income and work as peasantry were independent risk factors for HEV-IgG antibody positivity, and lowering ages of first sexual life, non-education and growing age were independent risk factors for HPV L1-IgG antibody positivity.

CONCLUSIONSBoth the HEV-IgG and HPV L1-IgG antibodies positive rates increase with age. Age is the common risk factor of HEV-IgG and HPV L1-IgG antibodies in female residents in Xinmi County. The risk factors of HEV-IgG and HPV L1-IgG antibodies have no statistical association, neither cross reaction was found in the HEV-IgG and HPV L1-IgG detection.

Antibodies ; Antibodies, Viral ; China ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis E ; blood ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis E virus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; blood ; epidemiology ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of apigenin (APG) on dominant response of Th2 cells in asthma model of mice.

METHODSThirty-two 6-week-old healthy BALB/c mice, SPF grade, were randomly divided into four groups equally, the normal control group (A), the asthma model group (B), and the two APG groups (C and D) consisted of asthma model mice treated respectively with high-dose (20 mg/kg per day) and low-dose (2 mg/kg per day) APG given by dissolving in 1% dimethyl sulphoxide via intraperitoneal injection. The murine asthma model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and provocation. Twenty-four hours after the last airway provocation, acetylcholine (Ach) was administered via caudalis vein for measuring airway resistance by pulmonary function detector; levels of IL- 4 and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and total IgE in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); total and differential cell counts in BALF were measured by light microscopy; the airway inflammatory infiltration was detected by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue was determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, the airway hyper-reactivity, airway inflammation, cell count and eosinophil percentage in BALF, levels of total serum IgE and BALF IL-4 and IL-13, and GATA-3 protein expression in the lung tissue were significantly increased in Group B (P < 0.05). As compared with Group B, all the above-mentioned indices in Group C and D were lower, showing respective significant difference (P < 0.05), and significant difference was also shown between the two APG treated groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAPG could reduce the airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity by down-regulating the expressions of pulmonary GATA-3 and Th, cytokines, which is a potential drug for asthma therapy.

Animals ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism