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

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper cells (Th1/Th2) in peripheral blood and their roles in the severity evaluation in children with asthma.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty children with asthma were classified into acute attack (94 cases) and remission (56 cases) groups according to their clinical features, and the acute attack children were subdivided into mild asthma (54 cases) and severe asthma (40 cases) groups. Fifty healthy children were enrolled as a control group. The levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg, CD4+IFN-γ+ Th1 and CD4+IL-4+ Th2 in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometer.

RESULTSThe mean levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in asthmatic children were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The Treg levels and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in the acute attack group were lower than those in the remission group and in the control group (P<0.01). The Treg levels in the severe asthma group were lower than those in the mild asthma group (P<0.01). There was a remarkably negative correlation between Treg levels and the asthma severity (r=-0.737, P<0.01), and the Th1/Th2 ratio was also negatively correlated with the asthma severity (r=-0.615, P<0.01). The Treg levels were positively correlated with the Th1/Th2 ratio (r=0.856, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe Treg levels decrease remarkably and Th subsets imbalance occurs in children with asthma. This suggests that Treg and Th immunity play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. The Treg levels and the ratio of Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood may be useful in the evaluation of severity in children with asthma.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Helper T cell (Th) has been identified as a critical immune cell for regulating immune response since 1980s. The type 2 helper Tcell (Th2), characterized by the production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13, plays a critical role in immune response against helminths invading cutaneous or mucosal sites. It also has a functional role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic diarrhea. Currently, most studies have shed light on Th2 cell function and behavior in specific diseases, such as asthma and helminthes inflammation, but not on Th2 cell itself and its differentiation. Based on different cytokines and specific behavior in recent research, Th2 cell is also regarded as new subtypes of T cell, such as IL-9 secreting T cell (Th9) and CXCR5(+) T follicular helper cells. Here, we will discuss the latest view of Th2 cell towards their function and the involvement of Th2 cell in diseases.
Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Humans ; Interleukin-9 ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Periodontal Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

As one of the most serious types of psoriasis, pathogenesis of erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is unclear so far. In this study, we aimed to detect the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokine-associated transcription factors and T-lymphocyte clone in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from EP patients, and gene expression level of T-bet/GATA-3 in skin lesion. The potential role of Th1/Th2 reaction pattern played in the pathogenesis of EP was also discussed. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were quantified by ELISA among 16 EP patients, 20 psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients and 15 healthy controls. The expression levels of T-bet/GATA-3 in the skin lesion and PBMCs were examined by real-time qPCR. The ratio of Th1/Th2 was measured by flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher in EP patients than in the healthy controls. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were 69.44±11.45 and 12.62±4.57 pg/mL, respectively, in EP patients, significantly higher than those in PV patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed the levels of both Th1 and Th2 in PBMCs from EP patients were higher than those in healthy controls, and the Th1/Th2 ratio was dramatically lower than in PV patients (P<0.01). The ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 and T-bet/GATA-3 in EP patients were both less than 1.0, suggesting a reversal when compared with the other two groups. Our study indicated that the EP patients exerted a Th1/Th2 bidirectional response pattern, and the balance of Th cell subsets inclines to Th2, which might be one of the important mechanisms of EP pathogenesis.
Adult ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis ; immunology ; pathology ; Skin ; immunology ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of mild moxibustion and lovastatin on immunologic function in rabbits with chronic hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (AS) to initially explain regulating rules of mild moxibustion on immunologic function.

METHODSAmong thirty-two Japanese male big-ear rabbits, 8 rabbits were randomly selec ted as a blank group, the rest 24 rabbits were fed with method of endothelial injury and high-fat diet to establish AS model. The blank group was raised with normal diet and free water. After ten weeks of model establishment, the rest 24 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medicine group, eight rabbits in each one. Moxibustion was applied at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min per acupoint per day in the moxibustion group, while intragastric administration of 3.6 mg/kg lovastatin capsule was applied in the medicine group. After treatment, serum was acquired. Spectrophotometry method was adapted to measure cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and evaluated atherosclerosis index (AI), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

RESULTS(1) The serum TC and HDL-C in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group, moxibustion group and medicine group (all P < 0.01). The mean value of AI was 1.683 +/- 0.486 in the moxibustion group, which was obviously lower than 20.301 +/- 4.022 in the model group (P < 0.01). (2) The ratio of Th1/Th2 was 0.569 +/- 0.143 in the moxibustion group and 0.445 +/- 0.079 in the medicine group, which were significantly lower than 0.917 +/- 0.255 in the model group (both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion group and the medicine group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion for AS could reduce atherosclerosis index, influence drift and bias of helper T cell and regulate balance between humoral immunity and cellular immunity. As a result, status of relative balance of immunity is acquired, which could slow down the development of atherosclerosis and process of thrombus burst.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; immunology ; therapy ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the variation and significance of natural killer T (NKT) cells in patients with severe multiple injuries.

METHODSPeripheral blood was drawn from 30 patients with severe multiple injuries and 20 healthy individuals. NKT cells and the subsets of NKT cells were stained and analyzed on fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) using Cellquest software. The level of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in blood serum was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe proportion of NKT cells was significantly increased. CD4+ NKT cells was increased (t equal to -3.11, P less than 0.01) and CD4+CD8+NKT (double negative NKT, DN NKT) cells decreased in patients with severe multiple injuries compared with healthy controls (t equal to 2.99, P less than 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the proportion of NKT cells and injury severity score (ISS) by Spearman correlation analysis (r equal to 0.70, P less than 0. 01). The level of IFN-gamma was significantly decreased and the level of IL-4 significantly increased in patients with severe multiple injuries.

CONCLUSIONSWe demonstrate that human NKT cells are increased in trauma patients. Most significantly, there is an association between ISS and NKT cells. The increased CD4+NKT cells may contribute to the reduction of Th1 cytokine production and the growth of Th2 cytokine production, leading to the suppression of immunity after injury.

Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; immunology ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Trauma Severity Indices

Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore possible correlations between renal Th1/Th2 ratio and renal microvascular injury in children with Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura nephritis (HSPN).

METHODSThirty-two children with HSPN were enrolled. They were classified into four groups by renal pathology: HSPN class II (n=8), HSPN class IIIa (n=7), HSPN class IIIb (n=10) and HSPN class IV/V (n=7). Five patients undergoing nephrectomy due to trauma were used as the controls. INFγ, IL-4 and CD34 in the renal tissues were measured by immunohistochemical analysis. INFγ was used as a marker of Th1, IL-4 was used as a marker of Th2 and CD34 was used as a marker of microvessel. The renal microvessel density was evaluated according to the Weidner standard. The relationships among the local Th1/Th2 ratio, renal pathological grade, microvessel score and microvessel density were studied.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical analysis showed a lower expression of INFγ and a higher expression of IL-4 in the HSPN groups than in the control group. The local Th1/Th2 ratio in the HSPN groups decreased and correlated significantly with the renal pathological grade. There were significant differences among four HSPN subgroups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the renal microvessel density in the HSPN class II and class IIIa groups increased significantly (P<0.05), but it decreased in the HSPN class IV/V group (P<0.05). The renal microvessel scores in the HSPN class IIIa, class IIIb and class IV/V groups increased significantly compared with those in the control and the HSPN classⅡ. The increased renal microvessel scores were associated with more severe renal pathological changes. A negative correlation was found between the local Th1/Th2 ratio and the microvessel density in kidneys (r=-0.921, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease of Th1/Th2 ratio in kidneys might be responsible for renal microvascular injury in children with HSPN.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Nephritis ; immunology ; pathology ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; immunology ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the status of Th1/Th2 immune response and the value of the detection of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) by examining the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSThe levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF and serum were measured using ELISA in 25 children with severe MPP, 25 children with mild MPP and 25 children with foreign body in bronchus.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in children with severe MPP were significantly higher than those in children with foreign body in bronchus (P<0.01) or with mild MPP (P<0.05). The levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in BALF were significantly higher than in serum (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe data suggest that the imbalance of Th1/Th2 exists in children with severe MPP and it seems to represent a predominant Th2-like cytokine response. The detection of cytokines in BALF appears to be more sensitive than in serum and may be of value in the diagnosis and therapy of MPP.

Adolescent ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology