OBJECTIVE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is known as one of the frequent causes of exacerbation of bronchial asthma and it can also be a trigger for the initiation of asthma. However, little is known about the pathogenesis of respiratory M. pneumoniae infection. Furthermore, there is little data on human cytokine production and its involvement in the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection. In order to investigate the immunopathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection, we investigated the cytokine production in the bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL ) fluid of patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia and viral pneumonia, and compared the results with those of control subjects. SUBJECT AND METHOD: BAL was performed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia( n=9 ), viral pneumonia( n=9 ), and control subjects( n=6 ) aged 3 years to 9 years. M. pneumoniae pneumonia was documented by polymerase chain reaction and serologic analysis. Four respiratory viruses ( adenovirus, influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza ) were detected by culture method. Cell pellets and supernatants were separated by centrifugation and Interleukin( IL ) - 2, Interferon( IFN )-r, IL-4, and IL-5 levels were measured in concentrated BAL supernatants by ELISA. RESULTS: Analysis of cytokines revealed significantly increased production of IL-4 ( p< 0.0001 ) and IL-2 ( p< 0.0001 ), in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia and significantly increased production of IL-2 (p <0.0001) in patients with viral pneumonia compared with those of the control subjects. Ratio of IL-4/IFN-r was significantly increased in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia ( p< 0.005 ) but not in patients with viral pneumonia compared with that of the control subjects. CONCLUSION: IL-4 production and IL-4/IFN-r ratio were increased in the BAL fluid of patients with M. pneumoniae infection. These findings suggest that predominant Th2 immune response could play an important role in the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection.
Adenoviridae ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Bronchoscopy ; Centrifugation ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

No abstract available.
Lung* ; Oxygen* ; Rabbits* ; Ventilation*

Effects of several cytokines(IL -1beta, TNFalpha, and IFNgamma) have been examined on fetal rat osteoblast-like cells. To investigate whether cytokines play direct causal roles in production of lysosomal enzyme, fetal rat osteoblast-like cells were treated with IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IFNgamma, respectively or combined. And acid phosphatase was determined by biochemical method. Alkaline phosphatase was assayed to determine the effects of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and IFNgamma on the expression of this enzyme. And also experiment of calcified nodule formation was performed to assess the effects of cytokines on the bone-forming activity of osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Acid phosphatase activity was significantly increased by the addition of IL-1beta and TNFalpha, whereas decreased by IFNgamma, However, no significant changes in alkaline phosphatase activity was observed when the osteoblast-like cells were treated with IL-1beta and TNFalpha. Interestingly, IFNalpha showed stimulatory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity. The number of calcified nodules was decreased by treatment of cultures with 1ng/ml IL -lbeta, 20ng/ml TNFalpha, and 500 u/ml IFNgamma continuously for 21 days, while considerable number of calcified nodules were formed in control group of osteoblast-like cell in culture for 21 days. These results seem to suggest that cytokines may play crucial roles in bone remodeling through the direct action on the osteoblast-like cell.
Acid Phosphatase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Cytokines* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to be related with development of various cells. In the heart, each isoform reacts differentially against agonists and the reaction changes during development. In this study, the roles of PKC isoforms (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta) were investigated through the localization of mRNA expression in the developing rat heart with in situ hybridization histochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The mRNA expression pattern of PKC isoforms (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta) was investigated with in situ hybridization histochemistry in developing and adult rat hearts. Whole body parasagittal sections were used for embryonal day 14 (E14), E16, E18 and heart sections were used for just born (P0), postnatal day 7 (P7), P14, P21 and adult rat. RESULTS: The expression of PKC alpha was found from E14, peaked at P7, and gradually decreased to adult level. The expression of PKC beta was observed from P14, peaked at P21, and decreased to adult level. The expression of PKC delta in the heart was observed from E14, peaked at P0, and abruptly disappeared at P14. The expression of PKC epsilon was observed from E14, peaked at P0, after that gradually decreased and disappeared at adult rat heart. The expression of PKC gamma and zeta was not found from any stage of developing rat heart. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is suspected that each PKC isoform may be differentially related with development of heart. The strong expression of PKC alpha, delta, epsilon around perinatal period, rapidly developing stage, suggests that PKC alpha, delta, epsilon may be related with rapid development of rat heart. And the late postnatal expression of PKC beta suggests that PKC beta may be related with maturation of rat heart.
Adult ; Animals ; Heart* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Protein Isoforms ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinase C-epsilon ; Protein Kinases* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Learning Disorders* ; Learning*

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*

This study was undertaken to investigate the morphologic changes following flushing, preservation and reperfusion procedures in a canine lung allotransplantation model. Donor lungs were flushed with modified Euro-Collins (MEC) solution, low potassium dextran glucose (LPDG) solution or University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, then stored at 10oC for 20 hours. Light microscopic and electron microscopic features of the lungs were examined after flushing, preservation and 2 hours after reperfusion. After flushing light microscopy showed focal mild alveolar collapse and interstitial edema. After preservation the lung tissue showed multiple foci of alveolar collapse, consolidation, and alveolar epithelial cell damage. After reperfusion the lung tissue showed diffuse alveolar collapse, consolidation and many destroyed cellular debris in the alveolar lumina. After flushing electron microscopy showed focal alveolar collapse and mild swelling of type I epithelial cells. After preservation both type I epithelial cells and endothelial cells were swollen and destroyed focally. Some type I epithelial cells were detached from the basal lamina. The endothelial cells showed luminal protrusion of tactile-like structure and vacuoles of the cytoplasm. After reperfusion the lung tissue showed fibrin material in the alveoli, prominent type I epithelial cell swelling with fragmented cytoplasmic debris and marked endothelial cell swelling with vacuoles or tactile-like projections. The alveolar macrophages showed active phagocytosis. After preservation scanning electron microscopic examination of the pulmonary arteries showed multiple patchy areas of swelling or conglomerated lesions in the inner surface of the pulmonary arteries. In conclusion, the ultrastructural changes associated with flushing were mild in severity, the donor lungs were injured during the preservation, and further damage occurred during the reperfusion.
Basement Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Dextrans ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibrin ; Flushing ; Glucose ; Humans ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lung* ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Perfusion* ; Phagocytosis ; Phenobarbital ; Potassium ; Pulmonary Artery ; Reperfusion* ; Tissue Donors ; Vacuoles ; Wisconsin