OBJECTIVETo determine the diagnostic values of plasma CD64 and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in children with pneumonia.

METHODSSixty children with pneumonia between August 2014 and October 2015 were classified into bacterial pneumonia group (25 cases), viral pneumonia group (17 cases), and Mycoplasma pneumonia group (18 cases) according to their clinical manifestations, pathogen cultures, and X-ray findings. Another 30 healthy children who underwent physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The concentrations of CD64 and sTREM-1 in blood samples were determined using ELISA. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of plasma CD64 and/or sTREM-1 for bacterial pneumonia.

RESULTSThe expression of CD64 and sTREM-1 in the bacterial pneumonia group was significantly higher than that in the viral pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and control groups (P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curves of CD64, sTREM-1, and a combination of the two markers for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia were 0.878, 0.805, and 0.956, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CD64 for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia were 81.30% and 92.32%, respectively, when the cut-off value was 641 pg/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of sTREM-1 for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia were 78.65% and 84.67%, respectively, when the cut-off value was 1 479 pg/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of a combination of the two markers for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia were 93.15% and 91.54%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma CD64 and sTREM-1 can be used as markers for diagnosing pediatric bacterial pneumonia, and a combination of the two markers results in better diagnosis.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Pneumonia ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Receptors, IgG ; blood ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A3 (LILRA3) in CD14 monocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Fifty three RA patients admitted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2017 to August 2017, and 21 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The expression of LILRA3 in CD14 monocyte subset was determined by flow cytometry, and its correlations with clinical features, laboratory examination results, antibodies and disease activity were analyzed. RESULTS: LILRA3 percentage in the CD14 monocyte subset of RA patients was higher than that in the healthy controls (<0.01). The percentage of LILRA3 was positively correlated with number of tenderness joints, number of swollen joints and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (=0.280, 0.371, 0.341, <0.05 or <0.01), but was not correlated with the age, course of disease, Sharp score, C reactive protein, blood routine index and immunoglobulin (all >0.05). In addition, the percentages of LILRA3 in the monocytes of rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody-positive patients were significantly higher than those of the RF-or anti-CCP antibody-negative patients (all < 0.05); and the percentage of LILRA3 in patients with DAS28>5.1 was higher than that in patients with DAS28 ≤ 5.1 (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression of LILRA3 is up-regulated in CD14 monocyte subset isolated from RA patients, and it is correlated with disease activity.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; physiopathology ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Receptors, Immunologic ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: The serum levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) have recently been shown to be correlated highly with disease activity in patients with intestinal Behcet's disease (BD). However, it remains unclear whether sTREM-1 levels reflect endoscopic activity in intestinal BD. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of sTREM-1 levels with endoscopic activity in intestinal BD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 84 patients with intestinal BD were enrolled. Endoscopic activity was compared with sTREM-1 levels as well as other laboratory findings, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: sTREM-1 levels were significantly increased in intestinal BD patients compared with controls (37.98+/-27.09 pg/mL vs. 16.65+/-7.76 pg/mL, p=0.002), however, there was no difference between endoscopically quiescent and active diseases (43.53+/-24.95 pg/mL vs. 42.22+/-32.68 pg/mL, p=0.819). Moreover, serum sTREM-1 levels did not differ in terms of number, shape, depth, size, margin, or type of ulcer in patients with intestinal BD. However, mean ESR and CRP levels in patients with active disease were significantly higher than those in patients with quiescent disease (p=0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In addition, endoscopic activity scores for intestinal BD were correlated significantly with both CRP levels (gamma=0.329) and ESR (gamma=0.298), but not with sTREM-1 levels (gamma=0.166). CONCLUSION: Unlike CRP levels and ESR, serum sTREM-1 levels were not correlated with endoscopic activity in patients with intestinal BD.
Adult ; Behcet Syndrome/*blood/*pathology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/*blood/*pathology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*blood ; Receptors, Immunologic/*blood

OBJECTIVEChronic airway inflammation is associated with the polarization of TH2 cells in asthma. Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) plays an important role in the polarization of TH2 cells. This study aimed to investigate the changes of PGD2 receptors (DP1/CRTH2) on T lymphocytes and their significance in asthma.

METHODSSeventy-two children with asthma were assigned to two groups: acute attack (n=42) and remission (n=30). Thirty-five healthy children were used as the control group. Plasma levels of TH2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, and TH1 cytokine INF-gamma were detected using ELISA. Radiological binding assay (RBA) was used to measure the contents of DP1/CRTH2 receptors on T cells in peripheral blood (PPB).

RESULTSThe total combining contents of DP and CRTH2 on T cells in PPB in the acute attack and the remission groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the DP1 content among the three groups. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-5 significantly increased (p<0.01), in contrast, serum levels of TH1 cytokine IFN-gamma were significantly reduced in the acute attack and the remission groups compared with those in the control group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe total combining contents of DP and CRTH2 on T cells increased, serum levels of TH2 cytokines also increased, but serum levels of TH1 cytokine decreased significantly in the acute attack and the remission phases in children with asthma. This showed that a polarization of TH2 cells occurred in children with asthma and suggested that CRTH2 antagonism may be a new target for the treatment of asthma.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Mapping ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Receptors, Prostaglandin ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Bushen Huayu Composite (BSHY) on interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion and IL-2 receptor expression in the aged.

METHODSIL-2 was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method and IL-2 dependent cellular stains, IL-2 receptor expression was examined by FACS-indirect immunofluorescence.

RESULTSAging could result in the decrease in lymphocytic IL-2 secretion and IL-2 receptor expression (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which could be improved by BSHY (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBSHY has significant up-regulatory effect on immune function of lymphocytes in the aged.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Aged ; Aging ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood

Japanese hop (Hop J) pollen has been considered as one of the major causative pollen allergens in the autumn season. We developed a new Hop J immunotherapy extract in collaboration with Allergopharma (Reinbeck, Germany) and investigated immunologic mechanisms during 3 yr immunotherapy. Twenty patients (13 asthma with rhinitis and 7 hay fever) were enrolled from Ajou University Hospital. Sera were collected before, 1 yr, and 3 yr after the immunotherapy. Changes of serum specific IgE, IgG1 , and IgG4 levels to Hop J pollen extracts and serum IL-10, IL-12, TGF-beta1 and soluble CD23 levels were monitored by ELISA. Skin reactivity and airway hyper-responsiveness to methacholine were improved during the study period. Specific IgG1 increased at 1 yr then decreased again at 3 yr, and specific IgG4 levels increased progressively (p<0.05, respectively), whereas total and specific IgE levels showed variable responses with no statistical significance. IL-10, TGF-beta1 and soluble CD23 level began to decrease during first year and then further decreased during next two years with statistical significances. (p<0.05, respectively). In con-clusion, these findings suggested the favorable effect of long term immunotherapy with Hop J pollen extracts can be explained by lowered IgE affinity and generation of specific IgG4 , which may be mediated by IL-10 and TGF-beta1.
Transforming Growth Factor beta/blood ; Receptors, IgE/blood ; Pollen/*immunology ; Poaceae/*immunology ; Interleukin-10/blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Humans ; *Desensitization, Immunologic ; Cytokines/*blood ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/etiology

OBJECTIVETo study whether infantile wheezing pneumonia has similar immune mechanisms to asthma by determining the levels of serum inflammatory factors in wheezing infants with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODSForty-two infants with CAP but without wheezing, 47 infants with CAP and wheezing, and 30 healthy infants as a control were recruited in the study. The peripheral blood levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-l, interferon-γ, interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and periostin were compared in the three groups.

RESULTSThe serum levels of procalcitonin, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-l, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in the two CAP groups were higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 in the wheezing pneumonia group was lower than in the non-wheezing pneumonia and control groups (P<0.05). The serum level of periostin in the wheezing pneumonia group was higher than in the non-wheezing pneumonia and control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe unbalanced ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 and airway eosinophilic inflammation in wheezing infants with pneumonia suggest infantile pneumonia with wheezing may has similar immune mechanisms to asthma.

Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Respiratory Sounds ; immunology ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and laboratory characteristics of cases with warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections and myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome.

METHODAn 11-year-old boy was diagnosed as WHIM syndrome and CXCR4 gene mutation analysis was performed.

RESULTSince 3 years of age, the patient had recurrent fever and persistent cough. Since 6 years of age, he had warts on his fingers, the warts increased gradually. His complete blood count showed: white blood cell (WBC) 0.65×10(9)/L, neutrophil 0.15×10(9)/L, hemoglobin 116 g/L, platelet 200×10(9)/L, reticulocyte 0.62%. Results of serum biochemical tests: total protein (TP) 72.2 g/L (reference value 60 - 80 g/L), albumin 20.4 g/L (reference value 20 - 35 g/L), gammaglobulin 20.4 g/L (reference value 20 - 35 g/L). IgG 5.56 g/L (reference value 7.51 - 15.6 g/L), IgA 0.48 g/L (reference value 0.82 - 4.53 g/L), IgM 0.29 g/L (reference value 0.46 - 3.04 g/L). Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets: CD3(+)T lymphocyte 43.6% (reference value 64.01% - 75.95%), CD19(+)B lymphocyte 1.00% (reference value 9.02% - 14.1%). Bone marrow smears showed that many of the neutrophils had a reactive appearance, with cytoplasmic vacuolation. Most neutrophils had hypersegmentation with four or five nuclear lobules. In some cells, the filaments connecting the nuclear lobes were long. CXCR4 mutation was detected.

CONCLUSIONWHIM syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency disorder with an autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance. The disease is less progressive, and may accompany the patients' whole life.

Agranulocytosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; genetics ; pathology ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Mutation ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; Warts ; genetics ; pathology

The objective of study was to explore the influence of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on migration of cord blood CD34(+) cells and their mechanism of migration. The expressions of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) and TLR4 were detected by flow cytometry. The CD34(+) cells in umbilical cord blood (CB) were enriched by MiniMACS and were exposed to various concentration of HMGB1 (10, 50, 100, 1, 000 ng/ml), then the migration effect of HMGB1 on umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34(+) cell count was determined by microscopy, the chemotactic index was calculated. The CD34(+) cells untreated with HMGB1 were used as control. The results indicated that the purity of the isolated CD34(+) cells was more than 98%. The HMGB1 could promote the migration of CD34(+) cells, and the migration effect of HMGB1 on CD34(+) cells in certain concentrations gradually increased along with raise of concentration, the strongest effect was observed in concentration of 100 ng/ml, there was significant difference as compared with control (p < 0.01). Anti-RAGE antibody partially inhibited the migration effect of HMGB1 on CD34(+) cells. It is concluded that the HMGB1 in certain concentration can enhance migration of CD34(+) cells, which may be mediated through RAGE.
Antigens, CD34 ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; drug effects ; HMGB1 Protein ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

AIM: A quantitative ELISA kit for the detection of human secreted CD306/LAIR-2 was developed using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies which were raised against a highly purified recombinant human secreted CD306/LAIR-2. METHODS: Anti-human secreted CD306/LAIR-2 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were raised by immunizing mouse or rabbit with recombinant human secreted CD306/LAIR-2. The monoclonal antibody was purified by protein G affinity, whereas the polyclonal antibody was purified by protein A affinity. The best match pair of antibodies were found and used to develop a double antibody sandwich ELISA kit for the detection of human secreted CD306/LAIR-2 in human samples. RESULTS: A human secreted CD306/LAIR-2 ELISA kit was formulated with highly purified recombinant human secreted CD306/LAIR-2, highly specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. This kit realized the quantitative measurement of recombinant human CD306/LAIR-2 and natural CD306/LAIR-2 in human serum samples. CONCLUSIONS The developed human secreted CD306/LAIR-2 ELISA kit is a reliable quantitation immunoassay kit.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Immunologic ; analysis ; blood ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins