BACKGROUNDIt has been known that intra-cellular immunity is important for defense against viral infections and this function lies with interferon gamma (INF-gamma). Here we evaluated the role of IFN-gamma system in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODSThe levels of interferon gamma receptor alpha (IFNGR alpha) on the peripheral lymphocyte membrane were assayed with flow cytometry. The plasma concentrations of the cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-10 in CHC patients and normal controls were assayed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples were collected randomly from Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Zhejiang and the northern regions of Jiangsu Province in China.

RESULTSThe levels of IFNGR alpha in CHC patients were significantly lower than that of normal controls (NC), especially among patients during the stable stage (P < 0.001), whereas there were no significant differences between CHC in active and stable stages. Among the patients of the three regions, there were no significant differences between patients from Xinjiang and Zhejiang provinces, but both had statistically significant difference compared with the patients from Jiangsu Province (P < 0.001). Plasma IFN-gamma and IL-10 concentrations in CHC patients decreased significantly, IFN-gamma in particular, but there were no significant differences in these levels between various stages of the disease. The IFN-gamma/IL-10 (Th1/Th2) ratio in patients was reversed.

CONCLUSIONThere may be defects in the IFN-gamma system in chronic HCV infected subjects and a low immune response, which may play an important role in the persistence of HCV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interferon ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the possible differences in the interferon gamma receptor (IFN-gamma R1) response among a variety of clinical types in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and implications in pathogenesis.

METHODSThe serum level of IFN-gamma and the expression level of IFN-gamma R1 in peripheral leucocytes, from 53 CHB patients, were examined by ELISA and flow cytometry respectively, which were compared with the baseline levels of 15 healthy controls and were performed correlation analysis with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil) in serum and morphological change in hepatic tissues.

RESULTSThe results showed that the level of IFN-gamma R1 (28.89% 11.77%) expressed on the membranes of lymphocytes in CHB patients, which correlated with liver inflammation (r=0.621, P<0.01) and serum TBil level (r=0.575, P<0.01), was much higher than that (9.23% 1.30%) of the healthy controls (Z=3.988, P<0.05), and no obvious difference on the membranes of leucocytes. The serum levels of IFN-gamma in patients with cirrhosis and severe hepatitis were higher than those of healthy controls. And the two was no difference from each other, but the standard deviation in each group was relatively large.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the IFN-gamma signal transduction pathway is modulated through up-regulating the expression of IFN-gamma R1 on the membranes of lymphocytes, which takes part in the immuno-pathogenesis in CHB patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interferon ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the role of interleukin(IL)18 and interferon gamma (IFN-Gamma) in the pathogenesis of condyloma acuminatum(CA).

METHODSDouble antibody sandwich ELISA was used to measure the levels of IL-18 and IFN-Gamma in serum of 30 cases of CA.

RESULTThe serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-Gamma of the CA patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls IL-18 132.00 +/-52.92 microg/L compared with 50.79 +/- 23.48 microg/L, P<0.01 IFN-Gamma:80.83 +/-20.46 microg/L compared with 20.71 +/-11.18 microg/L P <0.01) and IL-18 levels were positively correlated with IFN-Gamma concentrations (r=0.754, t=6.081, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that during infection of human papilloma viruses, anti-infective immune responses are activated.

Adult ; Condylomata Acuminata ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of acupuncture on asthma at acute stage.

METHODSNinety cases of asthma at acute stage were randomly divided into an observation group of 60 cases and a control group of 30 cases. Clinical therapeutic effect and the mechanisms were studied from symptoms and signs, pulmonary function and serum interleukin -4 (IL-4), gamma-interferon (INF-gamma).

RESULTSThe pulmonary function was improved, the vital capacity was increased and attack of asthma was reduced in both the observation group and the control group, but the observation group was better than the control group in the pulmonary function improving degree (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can strengthen the relieving action of medicine on asthma and it is one of effective methods for bronchial asthma.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthma ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Lung ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of acupuncture and the potential effect mechanism in patients with premature ovarian failure. METHODS: A total of 104 patients with premature ovarian failure were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 52 cases in each one. In the western medication group, the conjugated estrogens tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 0.625 mg each time, once a day, consecutively for 21 days. On the 16th day of medication with conjugated estrogens tablets, the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets were supplemented, 10 mg each time, once a day, consecutively for 5 days, and then, these two kinds of western medication were discontinued for 1 week. A total of 3 cycles were required in treatment with 28 days as an artificial cycle. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied. Two groups of acupoints were selected. The first group of acupoints were stimulated before ovulation and the acupoints were Guanyuan (CV 4), Guilai (ST 29), Taichong (LR 3), Taixi (KI 3), Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), Shuidao (ST 28), Dahe (KI 12) and Tianshu (ST 25). The second group of acupoints were stimulated after ovulation and the acupoints included Ciliao (BL 32), Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17) and Pishu (BL 20). The therapeutic effect was observed and compared in the patients between the two groups, as well as the expressions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicule stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E) before and after treatment. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 90.4% (47/52) in the acupuncture group, higher than 67.3% (35/62) in the western medication group (<0.05). After treatment, the expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the acupuncture group were obviously lower than the western medication group (<0.05). Except for serum LH after treatment, at the end of treatment and in 30 days and 90 days after treatment, the levels of serum E in the acupuncture group were higher obviously than the western medication group and the levels of serum LH and FSH were lower obviously than the western medication group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture promotes the regular menstruation, effectively regulates the levels of serum LH, FSH and E and improves the pituitary gland and the ovary endocrine in the patients with premature ovarian failure. Such effect may be related to the the improvements in the expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α, the inhibition of the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells, the recovery of ovarian function and the enhancement of reserve capacity.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; blood ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVEInterferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) are typical cytokines produced by CD4(+) T cells under antigenic stimulations, and the changes of serum levels of the two cytokines can indirectly reflect the immune state and the progress of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral blood of children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia.

METHODSThe peripheral blood concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were measured using ELISA in 40 children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia at the acute stage. The samples from 40 healthy children were used as the Control group.

RESULTSThe serum concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the Mycoplasmal pneumonia group were 99.43 +/- 13.18 and 44.61 +/- 17.46 pg/mL, respectively, which were higher than those in the Control group (86.23 +/- 6.31 and 25.97 +/- 9.40 pg/mL respectively; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere was an imbalance in cytokine secretion in children with Mycoplasmal pneumonia at the acute phase, suggesting that adjuvant immunological therapy is needed for Mycoplasmal pneumonia.

Acute Disease ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the submarine training on the antioxidant ability of the submarine men.

METHODS50 sea-training submarine men, 50 land-training submarine men and 50 resting submarine men were randomly selected from some submarine troops. The blood routine, the total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the levels of IFN-gamma in blood plasma, the hemolytic degree of RBC, the proliferation of peripheral-blood lymphocyte (PPL) of them were detected in each group.

RESULTSThe T-AOC of the sea-training submarine men, the land-training submarine men and the resting submarine men significantly increased by turns [(15.38 +/- 3.11), (18.81 +/- 2.45), (20.93 +/- 2.95) U/ml], but MDA and the hemolytic degree of RBC significantly decreased by turns [(2.56 +/- 0.70), (2.12 +/- 0.53),(1.77 +/- 0.56) nmol/ml and 25.72% +/- 1.67%, 21.45% +/- 1.02%, 18.28% +/- 1.37%] (P < 0.05). Compared with the land-training submarine men and the resting submarine men, IFN-gamma [(31.89 +/- 3.52) pg/ml] and the proliferation of PPL of the sea-training submarine men were significantly lower, whereas the red blood count (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly higher (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSubmarine training, especially sea training, may decrease the antioxidant ability.

Adolescent ; Antioxidants ; physiology ; Erythrocyte Count ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Military Personnel ; Submarine Medicine ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; blood ; immunology ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies reported interleukin-27 (IL-27), interferon-&gamma; (IFN-&gamma;), or adenosine deaminase (ADA) alone plays a helpful role in diagnosing tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). The present study aims at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of pleural IL-27, IFN-&gamma;, and ADA, and investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the combination of IL-27, IFN-&gamma;, or/and ADA for differentiating TPE from pleural effusions with the other etiologies.

METHODSThe concentrations of IL-27, IFN-&gamma; and ADA were simultaneously determined in pleural fluids and sera from 40 patients with TPE; 26 with malignant pleural effusion, seven with infectious pleural effusion, and eight with transudative pleural effusion by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method. The corresponding biochemical indexs were also simultaneously determined.

RESULTSThe concentrations of pleural IL-27 and IFN-&gamma; in the tuberculous group were significantly higher than those in the malignant, infectious, and transudative groups. The concentrations of ADA in TPE were significantly higher than those in MPE or transudative effusions, while much lower than those in infectious effusions. Among these three biomarkers, IL-27 was the most effective for TPE diagnosis, with the cut off value of 900.8 ng/L. IL-27 had a high sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 97.6% for differential diagnosis of TPE from non-TPEs. Combinations of IL-27, IFN-&gamma; and ADA measurements further increased the sensitivity or specificity up to 100%.

CONCLUSIONSCompared to non-TPEs, IL-27, IFN-&gamma; and ADA all simultaneously increased in TPE; and among these three rapid detection methods, IL-27 appeared to be the best for distinguishing tuberculous from non-TPEs, especially from MPE. Combinations of the three markers (IL-27, IFN-&gamma; and ADA) yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that the applications of a new biomarker, IL-27, alone or with IFN-&gamma; and ADA, may contribute to more efficient diagnosis strategies in the management of tuberculous pleurisy.

Adenosine Deaminase ; blood ; metabolism ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; metabolism ; Interleukin-27 ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; blood ; metabolism ; Tuberculosis, Pleural ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism