This experiment was carried out to demonstrate substance P (SP) and VIP in mast cells in human skin by double immunoenzymatic staining, and to examine SP, VIP and serotonin in mast cells in mouse skin by dual immunoflourescence method. The results were as follows:1. There were three types of mast cells in human skin by double immunoenzymatic staining: i. e. SP immunoreactive mast cells, VIP immunoreactive mast cells and mast cells with coexistence of SP and VIP. In comparison with toluidine blue staining, 8.32％ of mast cells were VIP immunoreactive; 14.51％ were SP immnuoreactive; 7.71％ were SP and VIP coexistence cells.2. Similar to human skin, SP, VIP immunoreactive mast cells and mast cells with coexistence of SP and VIP were found in mouse skin by dual immunoflourescence. They were 12.7％, 7.9％, and 10.3% of she toluidine bleu positive mast cells, respectively, which acounted to about 24.6％ of the toluidine blue positive mast cells.The possible significance of these results were discussed.

Objective To elucidate the function of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway underlying the regulation of Na+-I-symporter (NIS) and the influence of different levels of iodine on PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in lactating breast cells.Methods The primary cultured mammary gland cells were divided into three groups:①control group [0 μmol/L LY294002 + 0 μg/L insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ)];②stimulation group (50 μg/L IGF-Ⅰ);③inhibition group (40 μmo]/L LY294002 + 50 μg/L IGF-Ⅰ).In addition,the cells were treated with different iodine contents (0,5,50,1 000,3 000 μg/L) for low iodine groups 1 and 2,iodine group,high iodine groups 1 and 2,and IGF-Ⅰ (50 μg/L) was used to stimulate PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.The expressions of AKT and NIS mRNA and protein were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting,respectively.Results The expression of AKT mRNA (1.497 ± 0.550) in stimulation group was higher than that in inhibition group (0.777 ± 0.108,P ＜ 0.05),while the expression of NIS mRNA and protein in stimulation group (0.783 ± 0.187,0.618 ± 0.103) was lower than those in inhibition group (2.430 ± 1.423,1.417 ± 0.250,all P ＜ 0.05).With the iodine concentration increasing,except high iodine group 1 (1.090 ± 0.356),the expression of AKT mRNA in low iodine groups 1 and 2,iodine group,high iodine group 2 (1.758 ± 0.893,1.320 ± 0.538,1.003 ± 0.006,0.745 ± 0.307) tended to decline;total AKT protein (0.640 ± 0.106,0.601 ± 0.081,0.583 ± 0.089,0.555 ± 0.097,0.532 ± 0.023) and NIS mRNA (2.259 ± 0.682,1.823 ± 0.332,1.409 ± 0.366,1.321 ± 0.405,1.150 ± 0.454) tended to decline in low iodine groups 1 and 2,iodine group,high iodine groups 1 and 2;except low iodine group 2 (0.484 ± 0.179),NIS protein expression tended to decline (0.556 ± 0.199,0.502 ± 0.179,0.455 ± 0.126,0.435 ± 0.138);however,except low iodine group 2 (0.076 ± 0.045),the p-AKT protein expressions (0.078 ± 0.049,0.079 ± 0.040,0.085 ± 0.055,0.095 ± 0.051) were on the rise.Conclusion PI3K-AKT signaling pathway may play an inhibition role in the expression of NIS in lactating breast cells.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF） can be classified as pulmonary collateral disease，and its pathogenesis is mainly characterized by the loss of Qi meridian nourishment，the loss of Yin meridian nourishment，and the formation of blood stasis in the blood vessels. Qi Yin deficiency is the pathological basis that runs through IPF，and obstruction of meridians and collaterals is a key element in the development of the disease. The dysfunction of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" is closely related to the formation of the pathological pattern of "lung deficiency and collateral stasis" in IPF. The term "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" originated from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. If the spleen is healthy，the Qi will be filled with vitality. Positive energy is stored inside，evil cannot be dried up. Its concept is quite similar to the immune defense function in modern medicine. If the principle of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" is lost，the key structure and function of the IPF alveolar epithelial barrier may be abnormal，and it can interact with various innate immune cells to promote inflammation and fibrosis processes. Therefore，this article explains the imbalance of immune homeostasis in IPF alveolar epithelium from two aspects：the barrier function of alveolar epithelial cells（AECs） and their interaction with innate immune cells. And based on the theory of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function"，using traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening the spleen and nourishing Qi to treat IPF from the perspective of the spleen. This not only strengthens the scientific connotation of "spleen being in charge of the defensive function" in the pathogenesis of IPF，but also provides new research directions and ideas for its future clinical prevention and treatment.