OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on Th1/Th2 cytokines level in children with asthma.

METHODChildren with asthma were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. The control group was given Montelukast Sodium tablets for 4 mg (2-5 years old) or 5 mg (6-14 years old), once every night before sleeping. At the same time, the treatment group was given Pingchuan water decoction additionally for one tie per day, in four to six-divided doses for eight weeks. On the other hand, groups of health children were selected as blank control. Before and after treatment, the level of IL-4, IL-13 and IFN-gamma were detected by elisa from 3 mL of venous blood.

RESULTBefore treatment, IL-4 and IL-13 in two groups were obviously higher than healthy group, but IFN-gamma was lower (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After eight weeks, IL-4 and IL-13 in treatment group went down, but IFN-gamma increased. And there were significant different compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreating children asthma by integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine can obviously reduce IL4 and IL-13, increase IFN-gamma, and therefore lighten the airway inflammation, prevent asthma attacks effectively.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Child ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Western World

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory mechanism of Xiaoyin Recipe () on the T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) immune balance.

METHODSThirty-six experimental animals were divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group: blank control group (B group), negative control group (N group), and Xiaoyin Recipe treatment group (T group). The latter two groups received immunization of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), and T group were treated with Xiaoyin Recipe for a month. Then, the expression of Th1-Th2-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were screened with Oligo GEArray Rat Th1-Th2-Th3 Microarray. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet), and GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSGene array screening showed that compared to N group, in T group after Xiaoyin Recipe treatment, 3 genes were upregulated in EAT rats, including interleukin-27 receptor alpha (IL-27rα), glomulin (Glmn), and GATA-3, while 38 genes were downregulated, such as CD28, IL-18, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), T-bet, TNF receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4), TNF ligand superfamily member 5 (TNFSF5), and TNF receptor superfamily member 5 (TNFRSF5). While RT-PCR showed that there was an increased level of TNF-α mRNA (P<0.01), an elevated ratio of T-bet/GATA-3, and a decreased level of IL-10 mRNA in PBMC of N and T group compared to B group (P <0.01); and after treatment with Xiaoyin Recipe, IL-10 mRNA level increased (P <0.01), while TNF-α mRNA level and T-bet/GATA-3 ratio decreased in T group compared to N group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONXiaoyin Recipe for psoriasis could induce a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in PBMC of EAT rats and thus improve the conditions.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Psoriasis ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; drug effects ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS), a CD28 family member expressed on activated T cells, plays an important roles in T cell activation and effector function. This study was purposed to investigate the effect of blocking ICOS-B7h signal pathway by ICOS-Ig fusion protein on allogeneic reactive T cells and its mechanism. CHO cells stably and highly expressing ICOS-Ig were established, while the human ICOS-Ig fusion protein was harvested and purified from supernatant of CHO cells transfected with pSecTag2/Hygro A-ICOS-Ig. The CD4(+) cells from spleen of C57BL/6 mice were used as reactive cells, the bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) from BALB/C mice were used as stimulatory cells, these cells were treated with different concentrations of ICOS-Ig or human Ig (h-Ig) as control. The results showed that the target protein with molecular weigh 54 kD and endotoxin level < 10 EU/ml was gained. The ICOS-Ig (> or = 10 microg/ml) could significantly inhibited the proliferative effect of allogeneic reactive T cells resulting from stimulation of DCs (p < 0.01). ICOS-Ig did not influence the activation of CD4(+) T cells. ICOS-Ig concentration positively related to the apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells. The percentages of CD4(+) Annexin V(+)PI(-) cells in simple stimulated group, ICOS-Ig 10 microg/ml group and ICOS-Ig 20 microg/ml group were 15.1%, 26.4% and 33.6% respectively. ICOS-Ig decreased secretion of TNFalpha and increased secretion of IL-4. It is concluded that the ICOS-Ig fusion protein has bioactivity of inhibiting T cell proliferation and altering the polarization of T helper cells to Th2 cells which promotes the apoptosis of allogeneic reactive T cells but had no effect on the activation of allo-reactive CD4(+) T cells.
Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; CHO Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein ; Interleukin-4 ; secretion ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of Yanyankang powder on Th1/Th2 in rats with experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).

METHODSThe EAU models were induced in Lewis rats by immunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) 1177-1191 in complete Freund's adjuvant. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a model control group, a Yanyankang group, and a prednisone group, 9 rats in each group. The model control group was intervened with saline solution by gavage. The Yanyankang group was intervened with Yanyankang powder 4 g/(kg day) by gavage. The prednisone group were intervened with prednisone acetate tablets 5 mg/(kg d) by gavage. All groups were intervened after immunization once every 2 days for 18 days and monitored by slit-lamp biomicroscopy daily until day 18. The levels of gamma interferon (INF-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the supernatants of T cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was used for measuring Th1 and Th2 related cytokine mRNA expressions.

RESULTSSlighter intraocular inflammation was found in the Yanyankang group and the prednisone group than the control group. The levels of the IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatants of the spleen lymph node cells were 382.33±6.30, 155.87±4.46 μg/L in the Yanyankang group and 270.93±7.76, 265.32±11.88 μg/L in the prednisone group. Both had significant differences compared with the control group (941.53±8.59, 20.67±4.65 μg/L; =0.01). The PCR results showed the same tendency.

CONCLUSIONYanyankang powder showed favorable effects in the rats with EAU by influencing the function of Th1 and Th2 cells.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Eye ; pathology ; Female ; Immunization ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Powders ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Uveitis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology

The activation mechanism of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells may differ substantially from T cells carrying native T cell receptor, but this difference remains poorly understood. We present the first comprehensive portrait of single-cell level transcriptional and cytokine signatures of anti-CD19/4-1BB/CD28/CD3ζ CAR-T cells upon antigen-specific stimulation. Both CD4 helper T (T) cells and CD8 cytotoxic CAR-T cells are equally effective in directly killing target tumor cells and their cytotoxic activity is associated with the elevation of a range of T1 and T2 signature cytokines, e.g., interferon γ, tumor necrotic factor α, interleukin 5 (IL5), and IL13, as confirmed by the expression of master transcription factor genes TBX21 and GATA3. However, rather than conforming to stringent T1 or T2 subtypes, single-cell analysis reveals that the predominant response is a highly mixed T1/T2 function in the same cell. The regulatory T cell activity, although observed in a small fraction of activated cells, emerges from this hybrid T1/T2 population. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is produced from the majority of cells regardless of the polarization states, further contrasting CAR-T to classic T cells. Surprisingly, the cytokine response is minimally associated with differentiation status, although all major differentiation subsets such as naïve, central memory, effector memory, and effector are detected. All these suggest that the activation of CAR-engineered T cells is a canonical process that leads to a highly mixed response combining both type 1 and type 2 cytokines together with GM-CSF, supporting the notion that polyfunctional CAR-T cells correlate with objective response of patients in clinical trials. This work provides new insights into the mechanism of CAR activation and implies the necessity for cellular function assays to characterize the quality of CAR-T infusion products and monitor therapeutic responses in patients.
Antigens ; metabolism ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; Proteomics ; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen ; metabolism ; Single-Cell Analysis ; methods ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDEffects of icariin on airway inflammation in asthmatic rats and the intervention of LPS induced inflammation are interfered with the machanism of icariin. Our study aimed to observe the effect of icariin on ovalbumin-induced imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokine expression and its mechanism.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (PBS), asthma group (ovalbumin (OVA)-induced), dexamethasone group, and OVA+icariin low, medium and high dose groups (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, respectively). Each group had ten rats. The model of OVA sensitization was a rat asthma model. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to observe the effects of icariin on interleukin-4 (IL-4) and inerferon γ (IFN-γ) in rats' lung tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the intervention effects of icariin on T cells (T-bet) and gatabinding protein 3 (GATA-3) in rat pulmonary tissue. Realtime RT-PCR was used to observe the intervention effects of icariin on T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expression in rat pulmonary tissue and spleen lymphocytes. Western blotting was used to observe the icariin intervention effects on T-bet, GATA-3 and nuclear factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) p65 protein expressions in rat pulmonary tissue.

RESULTSThe ELISA results from pulmonary tissue showed that IL-4 expression was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the IFN-γ expression increased but not significantly when we compared OVA+icariin medium and high dose groups with the asthma group. Immunohistochemical staining of pulmonary tissue showed that the GATA-3 decreased significantly while the T-bet staining did not change in the OVA+icariin high dose group. In pulmonary tissue and spleen lymphocytes T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expressions were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in icariin treatment groups compared with the asthma model group. GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA in rat spleen lymphocytes in the asthma group were higher than in the control group. GATA-3 mRNA expression in pulmonary tissue significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while T-bet mRNA expression decreased but not significantly in the icariin treatment group compared with the asthma group. T-bet and GATA-3 protein expressions in pulmonary tissue increased significantly compared with the asthma group, which meant that icariin could inhibit the increase of GATA-3 protein, but not of T-bet. The bronchus, blood vessels and periphery pulmonary tissue had infiltration of inflammatory cells in the OVA+icariin high dose group while NF-κB p65 cells were reduced, and expression of NF-κB p65 in this group was less than in the asthma group. The expression of total p65 protein decreased with icariin treatment while the expression of cytoplasmic p65 protein increased.

CONCLUSIONSIcariin could regulate the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in asthmatic rat pulmonary tissue. Icariin could regulate the imbalance of Th1/Th2 associated transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 in asthmatic rat pulmonary tissue and spleen lymphocytes. Icariin could inhibit the activation of NF-κB p65 protein in asthmatic rat pulmonary tissue.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dynamic change of Th1/Th2 cytokines in serum, peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) and splenic macrophages (SM) in rats with severe peritonitis, and to observe the therapeutic effects of recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-2) and Shenmai injection (SMI), a Chinese medicinal preparation.

METHODSSevere peritonitis (SP) model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli and B. frag, and mild peritonitis (MP) model was induced by cecal ligation and punching. Then the following experiments were done: (1) Survival rates of animals after every 6 hrs in the 72 hrs after modeling were recorded, serum and PLF levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after modeling were measured. (2) Model rats were treated with rIL-12 or SMI, the survival rate was recorded and serum levels of TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, and IL-10 before and after treatment were measured, and (3) amount of these cytokines produced by SM were determined 6 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs after treatment. The survival rates and levels of cytokines were then compared between the groups (model group treated with rIL-12 or SMI, untreated model group, and blank group).

RESULTSSerum and PLF levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha at all the time points in SP rats were significantly lower than those in MP rats while those of IL-10 6 hrs and 12 hrs after modeling were significantly higher in the former than that in the latter (P < 0.05). IFN-gamma secretion of SM in SP rats was significantly higher than that in MP rats 6 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05). Administration of rlL-12 or SMI given before modeling could improve the survival rate of the model rats (P < 0.05) and cause significant increase of the serum level and SM secretion of IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSIONImbalance in promoting/antagonizing inflammatory cytokines and Th2 response dominance appear in SP rats early at the initiating stage, and SM secretion of inflammation promoting factor also reduces. Administration in time of rIL-12 and SMI, may increase the survival rate, and its mechanism may be related with their immuno-stimulating action.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Male ; Peritonitis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The study was aimed to explore the effects of T-bet (T-box expressed in T cell), GATA-3(GATA binding protein 3) and relevant signal transduction pathways on the immune-related pathogenesis of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA), and to investigate the immunological regulation mechanism in the treatment of CAA by using cyclosporine A (CsA) at the level of Th cell imbalance, transcriptional factors, and relevant signal pathways. The real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time FQ-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 4 (STAT4) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 (STAT6) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC) of CAA patients before and after treatment with CsA; the flow cytometry (FCM) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the Th1/Th2 proportion in peripheral blood, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-4 in PBMNC-cultured supernatant. Healthy people were included to test the above indexes. The results showed that the mRNA expression of PBMNC T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion, Th1/Th2 ratio and levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 in PBMNC-cultured supernatant of CAA patients were significantly higher than those of healthy people (p < 0.01). After treating with CsA for 6 months of CsA treatment, expression of T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion, IFN-γ and IL-12 levels were lower than before, however, the expression of T-bet, STAT4, T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, Th1 proportion and IFN-γ had not been reduced to normal state. Compared to healthy people, no significant difference existed in the mRNA expression of GATA-3, STAT6, Th2 proportion, as well as level of IL-4 before and after treatment (p>0.05). It is concluded that the abnormal activation of IFN-γ/T-bet and IL-12/STAT4 pathways, as well as Th balance deviating to Th1 excursion play vital roles in the immunological pathogenesis of AA. CsA lowers the abnormal activation of IFN-γ/T-bet and IL-12/STAT4 pathways to correct Th1 hyperpolarization, which may reduce the abnormally activated cell-mediated immunity and relax hematopoietic depression of AA patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; STAT4 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEAnti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI(TM)), a combination of three traditional Chinese medicinal herbs developed in our laboratory, has demonstrated efficacy in both mouse models of allergic asthma, and a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with asthma. This study was designed to determine if the anti-inflammatory effects of individual herbal constituents of ASHMI(TM) exhibited synergy.

METHODSEffects of ASHMI and its components aqueous extracts of Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Kushen (Sophora flavescens) and Gancao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), on Th2 cytokine secretion by murine memory Th2 cells (D10.G4.1) and eotaxin-1 secretion by human lung fibroblast (HLF-1) cells were determined by measuring levels in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Potential synergistic effects were determined by computing interaction indices from concentration-effect curve parameters.

RESULTSIndividual Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao extracts and ASHMI (the combination of individual extracts) inhibited production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 by murine memory Th2 cells and eotaxin-1 production by HLF-1 cells. The mean 25%-inhibitory-concentration (IC25) values (mg/mL) for ASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 30.9, 79.4, 123, and 64.6, respectively; for IL-5 production were 30.2, 263, 123.2 and 100, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 13.2, 16.2, 30.2, and 25.1, respectively. The IC50 values (mg/mL) for ASHMI, Lingzhi, Kushen and Gancao for IL-4 production were 158.5, 239.9, 446.7, and 281.8, respectively; for eotaxin-1 were 38.1, 33.1, 100, and 158.5, respectively. The interaction indices of ASHMI constituents at IC25 were 0.35 for IL-4, 0.21 for IL-5 and 0.59 for eotaxin-1. The interaction indices at IC50 values were 0.50 for IL-4 and 0.62 for eotaxin-1 inhibition. Inhibition of IL-5 did not reach IC50 values. All interaction indices were below 1 which indicated synergy.

CONCLUSIONBy comparing the interaction index values, we find that constituents in ASHMI(TM) synergistically inhibited eotaxin-1 production as well as Th2 cytokine production.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL11 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Th1/Th2 cytokines on the expression of nerve growth factor(NGF)in splenic lymphocytes in asthmatic model. METHODS: Four SD rats were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish an asthmatic model, and the rat splenic lymphocytes were isolated and cultured with ConA. The expressions of NGF mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and were observed after the lymphocytes were exogenously added with interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) or interleukin-4 (IL-4). RESULTS: The lymphocytes of the asthmatic model stimulated by ConA in vitro expressed NGF mRNA in a time-dependent manner. After the lymphocytes had been cultured with IL-4 for 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h, 50 microg/L IL-4 upregulated the expressions of NGF mRNA in a time-dependent manner and all the NGF mRNA expressions were significantly higher than the basal values at the same time(all Ps<0.01). After 0, 10, 50, and 100 microg/L IL-4 had been added for 24 h, IL-4 upregulated the expressions of NGF mRNA in a dose-dependent manner and the NGF mRNA expressions were all significantly higher than the values of the lower dose IL-4(all Ps<0.05). After the lymphocytes had been cultured with 10 mug/L IFN-gamma for 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h, IFN-gamma downregulated the expressions of NGF mRNA in a time-dependent manner and all the NGF mRNA expressions were significantly lower than the basal values at the same time(all Ps<0.01). After 0, 1, 10, and 50 microg/L IFN-gamma have been added for 24 h, IFN-gamma downregulated the expressions of NGF mRNA in a dose-dependent manner and all the NGF mRNA expressions were significantly lower than the values of the lower IFN-gamma dose(all Ps<0.05). CONCLUSION In the splenic lymphocytes of asthmatic rats, IL-4, one of the Th2 cytokines, can upregulate the expressions of NGF; IFN-gamma, one of the Th1 cytokines, can downregulate the expressions of NGF both in a time-dependent manner and in a dose-dependent manner. Th1/Th2 cytokine immune imbalance may indirectly induce the airway neurogenic inflammation by regulating the NGF mRNA expression.
Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; genetics ; Ovalbumin ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism