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

Chronic prostatitis is a common male disease, and its pathogenesis is not yet clear. Most scholars believe that oxidative stress and immune imbalance are the keys to the occurrence and progression of chronic prostatitis. Currently immunotherapy of chronic prostatitis remains in the exploratory stage. This article relates the active ingredients of 5 Chinese medicinal herbs (total glucosides of paeony, tripterigium wilfordii polglycosidium, curcumin, geniposide, and quercetin) for the treatment of chronic prostatitis and their possible action mechanisms as follows: 1) inhibiting the immune response and activation and proliferation of T-cells, and adjusting the proportion of Th1/Th2 cells; 2) upregulating the expression of Treg and enhancing the patient's tolerability; 3) suppressing the activation of the NF-kB factor, reducing the release of iNOS, and further decreasing the release of NO, IL-2 and other inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to the suppression of the immune response; 4) inhibiting the production of such chemokines as MCP-1 and MIP-1α in order to reduce their induction of inflammatory response. Studies on the immune mechanisms of Chinese medicinal herbs in the treatment of chronic prostatitis are clinically valuable for the development of new drugs for this disease.
Chemokines ; immunology ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Male ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; Th1-Th2 Balance

OBJECTIVETo explore progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) expression in the placenta and blood of patients with severe preeclampsia and its relationship with immune tolerance imbalance.

METHODSForty-seven patients admitted between January and December, 2012 were enrolled in this study, including 25 patients with early-onset severe preeclampsia (EOPE) and 22 with late-onset severe preeclampsia (LOPE), with 25 women with normal pregnancy serving as control group. The antenatal blood and postpartum placenta were collected for immunohistochemical staining to detect PIBF expression in the placenta and for testing serum PIBF level using ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to detect the percentage of circulating Th1 and Th2 cells and the Th1/Th2 ratio was calculated.

RESULTSPIBF was expressed in decidual cells, syncytiotrophoblasts and partial cytotrophablasts. The serum PIBF levels were 213.58 ± 44.93 ng/ml in EOPE group, 243.00∓61.19 ng/ml in LOPE group and 273.91 ± 48.57 ng/ml in control group. There were significant differences in serum PIBF, blood Th1/Th2 and placenta PIBF-IOD among the 3 groups (P<0.05). EOPE group had significantly lower serum PIBF, lower llacental PIBF quantity (PIBF-IOD) and higher blood Th1/Th2 than the control group (P<0.05). Serum PIBF in women with severe preeclampsia was positively correlated with placenta PIBF-IOD and negatively with blood Th1/Th2 ratio (P<0.05), but a negative correlation between serum PIBF and 24-hour urinary protein was found only in EOPE group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe immune tolerance imbalance mediated by PIBF may participate in the pathogenesis of severe preeclampsia. PIBF, the immune suppressor secreted by lymphocytes of pregnancy women, is also a protective factor against severe preeclampsia, which is expected to be a new target in therapy.

Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; immunology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Proteins ; blood ; metabolism ; Suppressor Factors, Immunologic ; blood ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis of which pathogenesis suspected is caused by immune dysregulation. The goal of this study is to evaluate the activation pattern of T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and T helper cell type 2 (Th2) in patients with Kawasaki disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 60 patients (male 36, female 24) with diagnosis of Kawasaki disease were enrolled. One hundred and eighty blood samples from these patients were collected according to the different clinical stages {before initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 5 days after initial IVIG, 2 months after initial IVIG}. The plasma level of Th1 cytokines; interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) & interleukin (IL)-2 and Th2 cytokines; IL-4 & IL-10 were measured by enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In all patients, the plasma level of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were markedly elevated during the acute stage of Kawasaki disease. Since then, the plasma level of all these cytokines decreased significantly along with the process of clinical stages. Regardless of the existence of coronary artery lesion or no response to initial IVIG treatment, there were no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that both Th1 and Th2 cells may be activated simultaneously during the acute stage of Kawasaki disease. Further studies are therefore required to establish the difference of activation pattern of T helper cells between Kawasaki disease and other inflammatory diseases.
Coronary Vessels ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukins ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Systemic Vasculitis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Th2 Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of maternal atopy on cord blood effector T cells and to identify these biologic markers as predictors of atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODSSeventy mother-infant pairs were recruited in this prospective birth cohort study. Suspected factors for allergy, including maternal allergic history, total serum IgE, and maternal age at birth, were collected. Mother peripheral blood samples and cord blood were obtained and assayed for the percentage of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) producing T cells(Th1 and Th2 respectively) using flow cytometry. Their offspring at the age of 2 years old were evaluated by their dermatologist whether they had AD. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression models and receiver-operating characteristic curve was employed to predict atopic dermatitis.

RESULTSTwenty-one allergic and 49 nonallergic mothers were recruited in this study. During the first two years of life, 15.7% children (n = 11) developed a physician-diagnosed AD (all children were the only child in the family). In group with maternal allergic rhinitis, a significantly increased percentage of Th2 was observed in peripheral blood of mother (7.10[1.18;16.1]% vs. 0.37[0.25;0.72]%, U = 10.0, P < 0.05) and cord blood of newborns (1.02[0.57;1.34]% vs. 0.21[0.15;0.42]%, U = 127.5, P < 0.05), respectively. Maternal atopic history did not affect the percentage of Th1 cells in cord blood (0.69[0.40;1.12]% vs.0.50[0.31;0.66]%, U = 361.0, P > 0.05). Children with reduced Th1/Th2 ratio in cord blood had a higher risk to develop AD (OR = 1.72, P = 0.001) . The model including Th1/Th2, maternal allergy, maternal age at birth and maternal total IgE showed high ability to discriminate children with and without AD. AUC was 0.907 (95% CI: 0.804-1.011, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSElevated IL-4⁺CD4⁺ T cells in cord blood were of relevance with maternal allergic history. Imbalance between Th1 cell and Th2 cell at birth are associated with maternal allergy and promoted subsequent AD development.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; immunology ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Prospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; blood ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; cytology ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Th2 Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the pathogenesis of psoriasis patients of blood heat syndrome (BHS) and blood stasis syndrome (BSS) and peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells axis drift, and to observe different expressions of peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells between healthy subjects and psoriasis patients of BHS and BSS.

METHODSThere were 15 patients in the BHS group and 15 in the BSS group. There were 16 patients in the healthy control group. The expressions of CD4+ gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by flow cytometry (FACS). The Th1 main cytokines such as IFN-gamma and Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 in the serum of psoriasis patients of different syndromes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI) were conducted.

RESULTSFACS results showed that the expression level of CD4+ IFN-gamma+ in the PBMCs was significantly higher in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Besides, it was positively correlated with the PASI (P < 0.05). ELISA results showed that the peripheral serum level of IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The plasma level of IFN-gamma was positively correlated with the PASI score in the BHS group (P < 0.05). The plasma level of IFN-gamma was negatively correlated with the PASI score in the BSS group (P < 0.05). The peripheral serum level of IL-4 was significantly lower in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPeripheral Th1 cells had dominant state in psoriasis patients of BHS. When psoriasis patients of BHS were transformed to BSS or to the normal level, the expression of peripheral blood Th1 cells decreased.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of NGF, BDNF, NT-3 mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). And to analyze the correlation between NGF, BDNF, NT-3 mRNA expression and the epidsode of rhinitis through Th-2 Hypothesis. METHOD: This study was a group controlled trial. The expression of NGF, BDNF and NT-3 mRNA were tested by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and INF-alpha were tested by ELISA. RESULT: The expression of NGF, BDNF and NT-3 mRNA in AR patients were 2.44, 4.46 and 1.78 times the amount of those in the healthy adults, respectively. The increased expression of NT-3 correlated positively with the scores of visual analog scale of AR. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10, which were 2198 +/- 472 pg/mL, 9407 +/- 703 pg/mL and 3917 +/- 323 pg/mL respectively, were higher than those in the healthy adults. The concentration of INF-alpha was 2198 +/- 472 pg/mL and less than the healthy adults. The increased expressions of NGF, NT-3 were positively related to the increase of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10. CONCLUSION The expressions of NGF, BDNF and NT-3 mRNA in AR patients are higher than those in the healthy adults. NGF, BDNF and NT-3 may contribute to the pathogenesis of AR. Moreover, NGF and NT-3 may induce the episode of rhinitis through Th-2 Hypothesis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; blood ; Nerve Growth Factors ; blood ; genetics ; Neurotrophin 3 ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; blood ; immunology ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Young Adult

The essential effect of vitamin A on immune function occurs through various mechanisms including direct effect on Th1-Th2 balance modulation. However, it is unclear whether or not vitamin A can regulate Th1-Th2 balance under a strong Th1-polarizing condition. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to examine the effect of vitamin A metabolite all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on Th1-Th2 differentiation in CD4+ T cells under GATA-3 deficiency, which can induce Th1-polarizing condition. In the present study, GATA-3 deficiency T cells were induced by siRNA and checked by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. GATA-3 deficiency CD4+ T cells and normal CD4+ T were treated for 48 h with or without ATRA. The expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines were detected by qPCR and ELISA. The results would contribute to clarify the knowledge of the role of vitamin A in regulating Th1-Th2 balance under some special conditions, and help to explain the mechanism of immune regulatory function of vitamin A.
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; deficiency ; Humans ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; drug effects ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of low-concentration ozone exposure on the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp(3+) regulatory T cells and the mRNA expression of transcription factor Foxp3 in asthmatic rats.

METHODSSixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 15 for each): normal control group, ovalbumin (OVA) exposure group, ozone exposure group, and OVA+ozone exposure group. The OVA exposure group was sensitized and challenged with OVA to establish an asthma model; the normal control group inhaled aerosolized saline; the ozone exposure group inhaled low-concentration ozone; the OVA+ozone exposure group inhaled low-concentration ozone before being challenged with aerosolized OVA every day. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp(3+) regulatory T cells in CD4(+) T cells was determined by flow cytometry. The levels of interferon-γ (INF-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) in peripheral blood and lung tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of Foxp3 in lung tissue was measured by PCR.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp(3+) regulatory T cells in OVA exposure group (6.12±1.03%) and ozone exposure group (5.87±1.26%) were significantly lower than that in normal control group (9.85±1.34%), and the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp(3+) regulatory T cells in OVA+ozone exposure group (3.31±0.85%) was significantly lower than those in normal control group and OVA exposure group (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-4 in plasma and lung tissue in OVA exposure group (plasma: 21.83±5.12 ng/L; lung tissue: 0.89±0.13 ng/L) were significantly higher than those in normal control group (plasma: 10.58±2.73 ng/L; lung tissue: 0.32±0.11 ng/L) (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-4 in plasma and lung tissue in OVA+ozone exposure group (plasma: 35.47±7.24 ng/L; lung tissue: 1.50±0.42 ng/L) were significantly higher than those in normal control group and OVA exposure group (P < 0.01). The levels of INF-γ in plasma and lung tissue in OVA exposure group (plasma: 61.78±23.45 ng/L; lung tissue: 0.69±0.21 ng/L] were significantly lower than those in normal control group [plasma: 158.89±60.23 ng/L; lung tissue: 1.86±0.29) (P < 0.01). The levels of INF-γ in plasma and lung tissue in OVA+ozone exposure group (plasma: 10.28±2.63 ng/L; lung tissue: 0.41±0.12 ng/L) were significantly lower than those in normal control group and OVA exposure group (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of Foxp3 was significantly lower in the OVA+ ozone exposure group than in the normal control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-concentration ozone exposure may decrease the number of CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp(3+) regulatory T cells and inhibit the mRNA expression of Foxp3 to promote Th1/Th2 imbalance in asthmatic rats, suggesting that ozone exposure may be one of factors that induce asthma attack.

Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Ozone ; adverse effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of antihistamine treatment on immune function in rats with experimental hepatitis.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups:experimental hepatitis group (EH group), antihistamine treatment group (AH group) and normal control group (NC group). Rats in the EH group received the subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride oil solution and were fed on diet with low-protein, low-choline, high-fat and high-alcohol,while rats in the AH group received antihistamine treatment(ketotifen + vitamin C) additionally.They were sacrificed after 4 weeks, and the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), histamine(HA), IFNgamma, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 were determined. The levels of IL-12 mRNA and IFN-gamma mRNA in liver tissue were determined via real-time reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).

RESULTS(1) Compared to the NC group, in the EH group, the levels of ALT, TBil, and circulating and intrahepatic HA were significantly increased(P less than 0.05); intrahepatic HA were significantly decreased(P less than 0.05) after antihistamine treatment. (2) Compared to the NC group, in the EH group, the levels of IL-4, IL-10 were significantly increased((0.504+/-0.202)ng/ml and (29.025+/-1.478) pg/ml vs (0.811+/-0.244)ng/ml and (33.72+/-4.293)pg/ml respectively, P less than 0.05), and the levels of IL-12 were decreased ((6.515+/-2.893)pg/ml vs (3.519+/-1.113)pg/ml, P less than 0.05); and after antihistamine treatment the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly decreased (were (0.423+/-0.168)ng/ml and (30.412+/-3.275)pg/ml, P less than 0.05), the levels of IL-12 were significantly increased (P less than 0.05), but the level of IFNgamma had no significance (P more than 0.05). The levels of intrahepatic IL-12 mRNA and IFNgamma mRNA had similar results.

CONCLUSIONAntihistamine treatment may improve liver function and correct Th1/Th2 unbalance.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Histamine Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Ketotifen ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism