Endometriosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Environmental Pollution ; Female ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, CCR ; metabolism

The exact pathogenesis of nasal polyposis is unknown, but inflammation is thought to be an important factor in its development. CC chemokines and CC chemokine receptors on inflammatory cells influence the cells' migration to the inflammation sites. In an attempt to better understand the events of this migration, we performed an analysis of the CC chemokine receptors mRNA in nasal polyps, allergic inferior turbinate mucosa and hypertrophic inferior turbinate mucosa. The expression of CC chemokine receptor mRNA was measured with an RT-PCR in 20 samples of nasal polyps, seven samples of allergic inferior turbinate mucosa and six samples of hypertrophic inferior turbinate mucosa. The results showed the expression levels of CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, and CCR5 mRNA to be higher in the nasal polyps than in the mucosa taken from the allergic and hypertrophic inferior turbinates. CCR4 and CCR5 mRNA expressed more strongly than did CCR1, CCR2 and CCR3 mRNA (p<0.001). The number of infiltrating eosinophils correlated with the level of CCR3 mRNA expression (p<0.001).
Chemokines, CC ; Eosinophils* ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; Nasal Polyps* ; Receptors, CCR* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Turbinates*

BACKGROUND: Chemokines and their receptors are important players in tumorigenesis by facilitating tumor proliferation and metastasis. Little is known about the possible function of chemokine receptors in relation to the development and progression of malignant cutaneous tumors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the chemokine receptor CCR3 expression pattern and the protein expression level in selected malignant cutaneous tumors. METHODS: Four types of cell lines (G361, A431, SK-MEL-2, SK-MEL-24) were analyzed, using Western blotting, for the expression of CCR3 protein. Immunohistochemical staining for CCR3 was done on 36 skin cancer tissue samples that included 16 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 16 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 16 malignant melanomas (MMs) and 6 normal tissue samples. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that CCR3 protein was more expressed in the MM cell lines (G361, SK-MEL-2,SK-MEL-24) than that in the SCC cell line (A431), and the immunohistochemical analysis showed that CCR3 protein was overexpressed in MM and SCC, it was mildly expressed in BCC and it was hardly expressed in normal tissue. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated via immunochemistry that CCR3 was more expressed in MM, followed by SCC and BCC. The existence of CCR3 protein may enhance the tumorigenic potential of malignant cutaneous tumors.
Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Chemokines ; Immunochemistry ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, CCR ; Receptors, Chemokine ; Skin Neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: CC chemokine receptor (CCR5) is characteristic of the Th 1 phenotype, the receptor of RANTES, MIP-1alphaand MIP-1beta. The receptor of CCR5 delta32 (a 32 bp deletion in the CCR5 gene, mutant type) results in the production of a non-functional receptor. Given the potential importance of CCR5 in allergic inflammation, we hypothesized that individuals carrying the CCR5 delta32 allele would show a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 187 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 278 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the CCR5 gene polymorphism was used for genotyping. RESULTS: We could not find the CCR5 delta32 homozygotes and heterozygotes at all in neither of the controls nor allergic rhinitis Korean patients. CONCLUSION: Since the CCR5 delta32 allele frequency did not deviate from that in the healthy control population, it is unlikely that this allele influences predisposition to allergic rhinitis in Koreans.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Chemokine CCL5 ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Phenotype ; Prevalence* ; Receptors, CCR ; Receptors, CCR5 ; Rhinitis*

BACKGROUND: CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 7 and cognate CCR7 ligands, CCL21 (formerly secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine [SLC]) and CCL19 (formerly Epstein-Barr virus-induced molecule 1 ligand chemokine [ELC]), were known to establish microenvironment for the initiation of immune responses in secondary lymphoid tissue. As described previously, coadministration of DNA vaccine with CCR7 ligand-encoding plasmid DNA elicited enhanced humoral and cellular immunity via increasing the number of dendritic cells (DC) in secondary lymphoid tissue. The author hypothesized here that CCR7 ligand DNA could effectively expand memory CD4+ T cells to protect from viral infection likely via increasing DC number. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of CCR7 ligand DNA on the expansion of memory CD4+ T cells, DO11.10.BALB/c transgenic (Tg)-mice, which have highly frequent ovalbumin (OVA)(323-339) peptide-specific CD4+ T cells, were used. Tg-mice were previously injected with CCR7 ligand DNA, then immunized with OVA(323-339) peptide plus complete Freund's adjuvant. Subsequently, memory CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were analyzed by FACS analysis for memory phenotype (CD44(high) and CD62(Llow)) at memory stage. Memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site induced with OVA-expressing virus were also analyzed. Finally, the protective efficacy against viral infection was evaluated. RESULTS: CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice showed more expanded CD44(high) memory CD4+ T cells in PBL than control vector-treated animals. The increased number of memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site was also observed in CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice. Such effectively expanded memory CD4+ T cell population increased the protective immunity against virulent viral infection. CONCLUSION: These results document that CCR7 and its cognate ligands play an important role in intracellular infection through establishing optimal memory T cell. Moreover, CCR7 ligand could be useful as modulator in DNA vaccination against viral infection as well as cancer
Animals ; Chemokine CCL19 ; Chemokine CCL21 ; Dendritic Cells ; DNA ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Immunity, Cellular ; Ligands* ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Memory* ; Ovalbumin ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; Receptors, CCR ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Vaccination