No abstract available.
Monokines* ; Neutrophil Activation* ; Neutrophils*

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports suggesting involvement of mast cell and neutrophil to induce bronchoconstriction in aspirin-sensitive asthrna. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mast cell and neutrophil activation in pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We observed changes of serum NCA and MPO levels during L-ASA bronchoprovocation test in 14 subjects with aspirin-sensitive asthma. RESULTS: Serum NCA was significantly increased at 30 min(p=0.01) after the inhalation of L-ASA and then, no significant changes were noted at 240 min (p=0.14). NCA was significantly higher in subjects with late asthmatic responses than in those without it (p=0.04). Serum MPO level tended to increase at 30 min with no statistical significance (p=0.08), and then it significantly decreased at 240 min (p=0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum NCA and MPO level (r=0.22, p=0.58). CONCLUSION: These results support the view that NCA derived from mast cell may contribute to neutrophil recruitment into the airway in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients.
Asthma ; Bronchoconstriction ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils*

BACKGROUND: The common histopathology of Behget's disease is vasculitis associated with activation of neutrophils. The level of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor (E a 1 PI), which represents the activation of neutrophils, may be a marker of Behcet's disease. OBJECTIVE: We examined the level of plasma elastase al proteinase inhibitor to evaluate the degree of neutrophil activation in Behcet's disease. METHOD: We measured plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor in 34 cases of untreated Behcet's disease patients and 30 cases of normal individuals by an enzyme immunoassay. We also studied the differences between the levels in two clinical types of Behcet's disease, the complete and incomplete type. RESULTS: The plasma level of elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor was significantly higher in untreated Behcet's disease patients than in healthy controls. However, there was no significant difference between the levels in the two clinical types. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the elevated level of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor may reflect a state of chronic activation of neutrophils in Behcet's disease immunologically and further studies will be needed to evaluate the clinical status of Behcet's disease patients by measuring levels of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor.
Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Methods ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Plasma* ; Vasculitis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of succinic acid on the apoptosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) in human peripheral blood, and to explore its role in infection.

METHODSPMNs were incubated in vitro, and its concentration was adjusted to 5 x 10(6)/mL. Then the cells were divided into normal control group and 5,10, 20, 30 mmol/L succinic acid groups according to different concentrations of succinic acid added into the medium. The supernatant of the cultures in each groups were collected to determine the superoxide content. 1 mL cell suspension was collected from 5, 20 mmol/L succinic acid groups before treatment and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 post-treatment hours (PTH) for the determination of caspase-3 activity and the apoptosis rate.

RESULTSThe content of superoxide in 5, 10, 20, 30 mmol/L succinic acid groups (0.437 +/- 0.056, 0.432 +/- 0.024, 0.395 +/- 0.049, 0.386 +/- 0.010) was significantly lower than that in control group (0.505 +/- 0.028, P < 0.05). The caspase-3 activity in each group increased along with the incubation time, but was in lower concentration in 5 mmol/L succinic acid group and in higher concentration in 20 mmol/L succinic acid group when compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of PMN in control group was (6.1 +/- 1.1)% before incubation, and it reached (13.2 +/- 2.0)% at 2 PTH, and (27.7 +/- 3.7)% at 10 PTH. The apoptosis rate of PMN in 5 mmol/L succinic acid group was lower than that in control group except that at 4 PTH (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the apoptosis rate in 20 mmol/L succinic acid group (during 4-10 PTH) were obviously higher at each time points compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow concentration of succinic acid can suppress the apoptosis of PMN, while high concentration of succinic acid has an opposite effect. It is known that bacteria can produce succinic acid.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; drug effects ; Succinic Acid ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is the most prevalent agent to cause occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. The pathogenic mechanism of TDI-induced OA is still unclear. Involvement of both immunological and non-immunologicaI mechanisms have been suggested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a possible role of neutrophil in the development of TDI-asthma. OBJECT AND METHOD: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as a neutrophil activation marker in both serum and induced sputum, and IL-8 in induced sputum were measured. Induced sputa and sera were collected from 15 TDI-induced OA patients (classified to group I) during TDI- bronchoprovocation test and were compared with those from 11 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI-bronchoprovocation test (group II). MPO levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, IL-8 levels, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and albumin levels, by nephelometry. Sputum MPO and IL-8 levels were presented as a ratio to albumin. RESULT: Serum MPO level tended to decrease during the TDI-bronchoprovocation test in two groups, but no statistical significance was reached (p>0.05). However, the ratios of MPO (the ratio of MPO level measured at 30 min to MPO level at baseline, and the ratio MPO level measured at 360 min to MPO baseline) in group I were significantly lower than group II (p=0.004, p=0.03 respectively). The IL-8/albumin and MPO/albumin levels in induced sputum from group I were significantly increased after the TDI-bronchprovocation test in comparison to the baseline value which was obtained before the bronchoprovocation test (p=0.0l, p=0.02 respectively). There was a significant correlation between the percent increase of IL-8/albumin and the MPO/albumin in induced sputum (r=0.89, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a possible involvement of neutrophil in the development of bronchoconstiction after the TDI exposure, and IL-8 might contribute to neutrophil recruitment to airway mucosa. Further investigation will be needed to investigate mechanism of neutrophil activation in the pathogenesis af TDI-induced OA.
Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Neutrophil Activation* ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils* ; Peroxidase ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sputum* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

Angiostatin is derived from enzymatic degradation of plasminogen and it has endogenous anti-angiogenic properties. Although tumor cells, macrophages, platelets, and neutrophils generate high amount of angiostatin, its expression is increased in inflammatory conditions. Moreover, angiostatin binds to integrin alpha(v)beta(3), ATP synthase, and angiomotin, which expressed on neutrophils. Activated neutrophils are essential to innate immune response, but also cause tissue damage through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase lifespan. In this article, it suggests several mechanism of angiostatin as immune regulator for neutrophils in inflammatory conditions; complex with integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and F(1)F(0) ATP synthase on lipid raft, attenuate polarization, and ROS production. These data provide possible exploit of double-edged role of neutrophils in acute inflammatory pathologies to preserve beneficial effect and minimize tissue damage.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Angiostatins* ; Apoptosis ; Immunity, Innate ; Integrin alphaVbeta3 ; Macrophages ; Neutrophil Activation* ; Neutrophils* ; Pathology ; Plasminogen ; Reactive Oxygen Species

Asthma ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; physiology ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; physiology

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and inflammation are important factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes and contribute to the development of diabetic complications. To understand the mechanisms that cause vascular complications in diabetes, we examined the effects of high glucose and/or free fatty acids on the production of superoxide from neutrophils and their role in endothelial cell damage. METHODS: Human neutrophils were incubated in the media containing 5.5 mM D-glucose, 30 mM D-glucose, 3 nM oleic acid, or 30 microM oleic acid for 1 hour to evaluate superoxide production through NAD(P)H oxidase activation. Human aortic endothelial cells were co-cultured with neutrophils exposed to high glucose and oleic acid. We then measured neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells, neutrophil activation and superoxide production, neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell cytotoxicity and subunits of neutrophil NAD(P)H oxidase. RESULTS: After 1 hour of incubation with various concentrations of glucose and oleic acid, neutrophil adherence to high glucose and oleic acid-treated endothelial cells was significantly increased compared with adhesion to low glucose and oleic acid-treated endothelial cells. Incubation of neutrophils with glucose and free fatty acids increased superoxide production in a dose-dependent manner. High glucose and oleic acid treatment significantly increased expression of the membrane components of NAD(P)H oxidase of neutrophil (gp91(phox)). Endothelial cells co-cultured with neutrophils exposed to high glucose and oleic acid showed increased cytolysis, which could be prevented by an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high glucose and/orfree fatty acidsincrease injury of endothelial cells via stimulating NAD(P)H oxidase-induced superoxide production from neutrophils.
Acetylcysteine ; Diabetes Complications ; Endothelial Cells ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Membranes ; NADPH Oxidase ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; Oleic Acid ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxides

BACKGROUND: Generalized immune aetivation occurs early in the course of many infectious diseases. Clinical investigations have known that immune activation can be qiantified by the measurement of soluble immune activation products, neopterin and elastase-a-antitypsm in serum. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess macrophage and neutrophil activation in patient with leprosy by measurement of neopterin and elhstase-a-antitrypin. METHODS: The study population consisted of 31 patients with subculoid leprosy and 71 patients with lepromatous leprosy (39 cases of M. leprae positive patients and 32 cases of M. leprce negative patients). Serum samples and clinical and laboratory data were collected form each patient and control. The levels of serum neopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin were masured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The serum neopterin levels were significantly raised in patients with leprosy and significantly higher in lepromatous leprosy than tuberculoid leprosy. The sejum elastase-a-antitrypsin levels were significantly increased in pat,ients with leprosy, but did not vary significantly between tuberculoid and lepramatous leprosy. There was also no significant correlation between the neopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin levels and bacterial index in patients with lepromatous prosy. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that non-specific activation of macrophages and neutrophiles occurs in leprosy and high titers of ineopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin alore, in the absenee of a functioning T cell response, do not appee,r to confer resistance against Mycobacterium leprae.
Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Leprosy, Tuberculoid ; Macrophages ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Neopterin* ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; Pancreatic Elastase* ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum

BACKGROUND: Generalized immune aetivation occurs early in the course of many infectious diseases. Clinical investigations have known that immune activation can be qiantified by the measurement of soluble immune activation products, neopterin and elastase-a-antitypsm in serum. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess macrophage and neutrophil activation in patient with leprosy by measurement of neopterin and elhstase-a-antitrypin. METHODS: The study population consisted of 31 patients with subculoid leprosy and 71 patients with lepromatous leprosy (39 cases of M. leprae positive patients and 32 cases of M. leprce negative patients). Serum samples and clinical and laboratory data were collected form each patient and control. The levels of serum neopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin were masured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The serum neopterin levels were significantly raised in patients with leprosy and significantly higher in lepromatous leprosy than tuberculoid leprosy. The sejum elastase-a-antitrypsin levels were significantly increased in pat,ients with leprosy, but did not vary significantly between tuberculoid and lepramatous leprosy. There was also no significant correlation between the neopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin levels and bacterial index in patients with lepromatous prosy. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that non-specific activation of macrophages and neutrophiles occurs in leprosy and high titers of ineopterin and elastase-a-antitrypsin alore, in the absenee of a functioning T cell response, do not appee,r to confer resistance against Mycobacterium leprae.
Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Leprosy, Tuberculoid ; Macrophages ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Neopterin* ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophils ; Pancreatic Elastase* ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum