Th2 cell immunity is required for host defense against helminths, but it is detrimental in allergic diseases in humans. Unlike Th1 cell and Th17 cell subsets, the mechanism by which dendritic cells modulate Th2 cell responses has been obscure, in part because of the inability of dendritic cells to provide IL-4, which is indispensable for Th2 cell lineage commitment. In this regard, immune cells other than dendritic cells, such as basophils and innate lymphoid cells, have been suggested as Th2 cell inducers. More recently, multiple independent researchers have shown that specialized subsets of dendritic cells mediate Th2 cell responses. This review will discuss the current understanding related to the regulation of Th2 cell responses by dendritic cells and other immune cells.
Basophils ; Dendritic Cells* ; Helminths ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; Th1 Cells ; Th17 Cells ; Th2 Cells*

Thl cloned cell line 28-4 which is an I-A + KLH - specific Th1 type clone of (C57BU6xC 3H) F1 origin was kindly provided by professor Tomio Tada. In these studies, employing these cloned cells, the author investigated both proliferation responses of Thl cells in the presence of various concentrations of cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-4 or IL-6 and proliferation of Thl cells to various concentration of mitogens such as PHA, ConA or PWM. In addition, the author also investigated the proliferation response of Th1 cells to the optimal dose of PHA, ConA or PWM in the presence or absence of above mentioned cytokines. It was found that IL-2, IL-4 or IL-6 alone their growth stimulation degree was dependent on cytokine concentration and that PHA, ConA or PWM stimulated Thl cell proliferation and optimal dose of PHA ConA and PWM was 3 g, 4 g and 2 g per ml, respectively. In addition, proliferation response of Th1 cells to ConA or PWM in the presence of IL-2 was significantly enhanced, but the proliferation response to PHA was not increased significantly. However, IL-4 did not significantly modulate mitogen-activated Thl cell proliferation response. Interestingly, IL-6 decreased PHA- or ConA-activated proliferation of Thl cells, but did not change PWM-activated proliferation. Taken together, these studies strongly suggested that IL-2, IL-4 or IL-6 itself clone stimulated the Thl cell proliferation and that PHA, ConA or PWM also stimulated Thl cell proliferation. In addition, these studies also indicated that IL-2 increased ConA- or PWM-activated Thl cell proliferation, but IL6 inhibited PHA- or ConA-activated Th1 cell proliferation and that IL-4 did not significantly change the mitogen-activated Th1 cell proliferation.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Clone Cells ; Cytokines* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mitogens ; Th1 Cells*

Asthma is a phenotypically heterogeneous chronic disease of the airways. Studies have found that neutrophils are crucial to airway inflammation in acute asthma, persistent asthma, particularly in asthma of poor response to glucocorticoid treatment. The role of neutrophils in development of bronchial asthma is complex, as they can release a potent source of cytokines and inflammatory mediators participating in asthma. Differing from eosinophilic inflammatory asthma, neutrophilic inflammatory asthma is not depend on helper T (Th)2 cells, but may be related to Th1 and Th17 cells. This review highlights the role of neutrophils in the development of asthma, and the treatment of neutrophilic asthma with biological agents and novel small molecules.
Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Neutrophils ; immunology ; physiology ; Th1 Cells ; Th17 Cells

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease, which was released by the IgE-mediated atopic individuals exposed to allergens in the earlier researches. However, there are variety of immunocompetent cells and cytokines involved in the nasal mucosa immunologic mechanism in nowadays researches. The mechanism of AR is caused by the imbalance of the Th1/Th2, a kind of allergic inflammation who is characterized by the nasal Th2 immune response dominant. Th1 cells mainly produce of IFN-gamma (does not include IL-4 and IL-5), Th2 cells produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13 (not including IFN-gamma). Recently it was found that regulatory T cells (T regulatory cells, Treg) and Th17 cell research played a crucial role in the occurrence of allergic inflammation.
Cytokines ; immunology ; Humans ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines and B lymphocyte level and their clinical significance in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients treated by recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO). METHODS: The peripheral blood levels of Th1 and Th2 type of cytokines and B lymphocyte were estimated by CBA in 48 patients with ITP, and compared with those in 35 control persons of heath examination. RESULTS: Before treatment, the levels of Th1 type cytokines and B lymphocyte in 48 patients with ITP were higher, and the levels of Th2 type cytokines were lower than those of healthy controls (P＜0.05). The levels of the peripheral blood CD19 cells, CD5CD19 cells, IL-2 expression negatively correlated with Plt counts in ITP patients (P＜0.05), the levels of IL-4 positively correlated with Plt counts (P＜0.05). After treatment with rhTPO, the levels of Th1 type cytokines and B lymphocytes in 48 patients with ITP significantly decreased, and the levels of Th2 type cytokines significantly increased in comparison with those before treatment (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Peripheral blood Th1 and Th2 type cytokines express abnormally and level of B lymphocytes increases significantly in ITP patinets. The disease severity correlats with the levels of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines and B lymphocytes. Platelets increase after rhTPO treatment, showing that rhTPO can play an important role in regulating Th1 and Th2 immunologic balance and B lymphocyte level in ITP patients.
B-Lymphocytes ; Humans ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Th1 Cells ; Th2 Cells ; Thrombopoietin

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanisms of the long-snake moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on Th17/Treg/Th1 immune imbalance. METHODS: A total of 60 AS patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, the long-snake moxibustion therapy was used on the acupoints of the governor vessel from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) as well as the bilateral Jiaji (EX-B 2) alternatively. The moxibustion was given once a day, for 7 days continuously as one course. There were 3 days at the interval between the courses and 4 courses were required. In the control group, the routine western medication was provided, the salazosulfapyridine combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used, for 7 days continuous as one course. A total of 4 courses of medication were required. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-23 (IL-23) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The real-time quantification polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expressions of the specific transcription factors, FoxP3 and T-bet of the helper 17 cells (Th17), regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper 1 cells (Th1). The flow cytometry was applied to determine the rates of Treg, Th1 and Th17, as well as the changes of the inflammatory reaction index, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was better than 86.7% (26/30) in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the levels of CRP, ESR, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α, as well as the rate of Th17 were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (all <0.05). The mRNA expressions of FoxP3 and T-bet and the rates of Treg and Th1 were increased as compared with those before treatment (all <0.05). The change degree in the observation group was significant as compared with the control group (all <0.05). In the control group, the levels of CRP, ESR, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-α, as well as the rate of Th17 were reduced, and the mRNA expressions of FoxP3 and T-bet and the rates of Treg and Th1 were increased after treatment. But the changes were not significant as compared with those before treatment (all >0.05). CONCLUSION The long-snake moxibustion effectively relieves the clinical symptoms in AS patients and regulates the Th17/Treg/Th1 immune imbalance. Its effect target is probably related to the modulation of the AS immune derangement and the inflammatory responses induced by immune derangement so as to achieve the dual-positive regulatory effect.
Animals ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Moxibustion ; Snakes ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th1 Cells ; Th17 Cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of interleukin -8 (IL-8) on immune function in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and its related mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-five ALL patients were selected from January 2014 to September 2017 in our hospital. Out of them, 32 relieved patients were included in group A, 13 patients did not relieved patients after treatment and were included in the group B. The serum IL-8 level was detected by ELISA.Th1 and Th2 cells were measured by flow cytometry. After Th cells were treated with different concentration of IL-8, the Western blot was used to detect the translation levels of p-STAT3 and JAK in cells. RESULTS: The difference of white blood cell count and clinical risk level between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum IL-8 levels in group A and B were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The serum IL-8 level in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of Th1 cells in group B was 6.15%±1.22%, significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05), and Th2 cell level in group B was 2.76%±0.24%, significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05); Th1/Th2 in group B was 2.23%±0.09, significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05). The protein level of p-STAT3 and JAK in the Th cells was lower than that in control group at different levels of IL-8 after treatment (P<0.05). After stimulating Th cells with 20 ng/ml IL-8, the levels of p-STAT3 and JAK protein in cells were lower than those after 10 ng/ml IL-8 treatment (P<0.05). IL-8 level had no significant effect on the protein expression of STAT3 in Th cells (P>0.05). CONCLUSION IL-8 can interfere the balance of Th1/Th2 through STAT3 signaling pathway, and has effect on the immune function of ALL patients.
Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-8 ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Th1 Cells ; Th2 Cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of microRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia(ITP) and its correlation with the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells. METHODS: Thirty patients with ITP (ITP group) and 15 healthy people (control group) were enrolled．Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of six miRNAs (miR-107,miR-205-5p,miR-138-5p,miR-326,miR-1827,miR-185-5p) and Th1-specific transcription factor T-bet mRNA and Th2-specific transcription factor GATA-3 mRNA in the peripheral blood of the two groups. Th1 and Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of Th1-cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ and Th2-cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were detected by AimPlex multiple immunoassays for Flow. The expression difference of miRNAs, mRNA, Th1, Th2 cells and cytokines of the two groups were compared, and the correlations of miRNAs to mRNA, Th1, Th2 cells and cytokines were analyzed in ITP group. RESULTS: The expressions of miRNAs（miR-107, miR-205-5p, miR-138-5p, miR-326, miR-1827, miR-185-5p）and Th2-specific transcription factor GATA-3 mRNA of the patients in ITP group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) as compared with those in control, while the expressions of Th1 cells and Th1-specific transcription factor T-bet mRNA and Th1-cytokines TNF-α were significantly increased (P<0.05), also for the ratios of T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA and Th1/Th2 cells were significantly increased (P<0.05). The relative expressions of miR-107, miR-205-5p, miR-138-5p in ITP patients were negatively correlated with Th2 cells (r=-0.411, r=-0.593, r=-0.403,P<0.05) and the relative expression of miR-1827 was negatively correlated with TNF-α (r=-0.390). CONCLUSION The relative expressions of the six miRNAs in peripheral blood of patients with ITP are significantly decreased, which result in the increasing ratio of T-bet mRNA/GATA-3 mRNA, then lead to the imbalance of Th1/Th2.
Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; RNA, Messenger ; Th1 Cells ; Th2 Cells

Adult ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Lymphoma ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Th1 Cells ; Th2 Cells

OBJECTIVES: To study the expression levels of microRNA-138 (miR-138) and Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) in peripheral blood of children with cough variant asthma (CVA) and their regulatory effects on Th1/Th2 balance. METHODS: Sixty-five children with CVA (CVA group) and 30 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected for both groups, and CD4 RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the CVA group showed significantly decreased levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 from CD4 CONCLUSIONS MiR-138 regulates Th1/Th2 balance by targeting RUNX3 in children with CVA, providing a new direction for the treatment of CVA.
Asthma ; Child ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit/genetics* ; Cough ; Humans ; Interleukin-13 ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Th1 Cells ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Th2 Cells