Astragalus membranaceus may be a potential therapy for childhood asthma but its driving mechanism remains elusive. The main components of A. membranaceus were identified by HPLC. The children with asthma remission were divided into two combination group (control group, the combination of budesonide and terbutaline) and A. membranaceus group (treatment group, the combination of budesonide, terbutaline and A. membranaceus). The therapeutic results were compared between two groups after 3-month therapy. Porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from venous blood by using density gradient centrifugation on percoll. The levels of FoxP3, EGF-β, IL-17 and IL-23 from PBMCs and serum IgE were measured. The relative percentage of Treg/Th17 cells was determined using flow cytometry. The main components of A. membranaceus were calycosin-7-O-glucoside, isoquercitrin, ononin, calycosin, quercetin, genistein, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and formononetin, all of which may contribute to asthma therapy. Lung function was significantly improved in the treatment group when compared with a control group (P < 0.05). The efficacy in preventing the occurrence of childhood asthma was higher in the treatment group than the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of IgE, IL-17 and IL-23 were reduced significantly in the treatment group when compared with the control group, while the levels of FoxP3 and TGF-β were increased in the treatment group when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). A. membranaceus increased the percentage of Treg cells and reduced the percentage of Th17 cells. A. membranaceus is potential natural product for improving the therapeutic efficacy of combination therapy of budesonide and terbutaline for the children with asthma remission by modulating the balance of Treg/Th17 cells.
Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Astragalus propinquus ; chemistry ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Swine ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; drug effects ; Terbutaline ; administration & dosage ; Th17 Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

Asthma is a chronic disease of airway inflammation due to excessive T helper cell type 2 (Th2) response. Present treatment based on inhalation of synthetic glucocorticoids can only control Th2-driven chronic eosinophilic inflammation, but cannot change the immune tolerance of the body to external allergens. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are the main negative regulatory cells of the immune response. Tregs play a great role in regulating allergic, autoimmune, graft-versus-host responses, and other immune responses. In this review, we will discuss the classification and biological characteristics, the established immunomodulatory mechanisms, and the characteristics of induced differentiation of Tregs. We will also discuss the progress of Tregs in the field of asthma. We believe that further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of Tregs will provide better treatments and control strategies for asthma.
Antigens, CD/analysis* ; Apyrase/analysis* ; Asthma/immunology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Role of autophagy in neutrophil function and the association of autophagy and autophagy related (ATG) gene polymorphisms with asthma susceptibility were suggested. In this study, we investigated the genetic association of ATG5 and ATG7 polymorphisms with asthma risk, severity and neutrophilic airway inflammation. METHODS: We recruited 408 asthma patients and 201 healthy controls. Sputum neutrophil counts were determined by H&E staining. Serum interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Genetic polymorphisms of ATG5 (-769T>C, -335G>A, and 8830C>T) and ATG7 (-100A>G and 25108G>C) were genotyped. The functional activities of ATG5 -769T>C and -335G>A variants were investigated by luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: No associations of ATG5 and ATG7 polymorphisms with asthma susceptibility and severity were found. ATG5 -769T>C and -335G>A were in complete linkage disequilibrium. In the asthma group, GA/AA genotypes at ATG5 -335G>A were associated with higher neutrophil counts in sputum (p < 0.05); CC/TT genotype at ATG5 8830C>T associated with lower FEV1% predicted value (p < 0.05). DNA fragments containing ATG5 -769T and -335G alleles had higher promoter activities compared to those with -769C and -335A in both human airway epithelial cells (A549, p < 0.01) and human mast cell (HMC-1, p < 0.001). GG and CC genotype at ATG7 -100A>G and 25108G>C were significantly associated with high serum levels of IL-8 (p < 0.05 for both variants). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic polymorphisms of ATG5 and ATG7 could contribute to neutrophilic airway inflammation in the pathogenesis of adult asthma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma/blood/*genetics/immunology/pathology ; Autophagy/*genetics ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5/*genetics ; Autophagy-Related Protein 7/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Line ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Interleukin-8/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophil Infiltration/*genetics ; Neutrophils/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Transfection ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between airway inflammation and osteopontin (OPN) level in the lung tissue, and to study the effect of dexamethasone (DXM) on OPN expression.

METHODSFifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control, ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged asthma groups (OVA inhalation for 1 week or 2 weeks) and DXM-treated asthma groups (DXM treatment for 1 week or 2 weeks). The mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to prepare mouse model of acute asthma. Alterations of airway inflammation were observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum level of OVA-sIgE was evaluated using ELISA. OPN expression in the lung tissue was located and measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot respectively. OPN mRNA level in the lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe asthma groups showed more pathological changes in the airway than the normal control and the DXM-treated groups. Compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group, the pathological alterations increased in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group. The level of OVA-sIgE in serum increased in the asthma groups compared with the control and the DXM groups (P<0.01). Serum OVA-sIgE sevel increased more significantly in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group (P<0.01). OPN protein and mRNA levels were significantly raised in the asthma groups compared with the normal control and the DXM groups (P<0.01), and both levels increased more significantly in the OVA-challenged 2 weeks group compared with the OVA-challenged 1 week group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe increased OPN expression in the lung tissue is associated with more severe airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, suggesting that OPN may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. DXM can alleviate airway inflammation possibly by inhibiting OPN production.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteopontin ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Ovalbumin ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of suplatast tosilate (IPD) on the airway inflammation and expression of interleukin-5 in asthmatic rats.

METHODSFifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (4-week- old) were randomly assigned to five groups: placebo control, untreated asthma, budesonide(BUD)-treated asthma , early or late IPD intervention group (n=10 rats each). Asthmatic mode was prepared by ovalbumin sensitizion and challenge. Inflammatory cells and the percentage of EOS were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The lung tissues were removed to detect the lung histomorphology. Gene expression of IL-5 was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Levels of interleukin 5 (IL-5) in BALF were measured using ELISA.

RESULTSThe inflammatory cells and the percentage of EOS in BALF, IL-5 levels in BALF and IL-5 mRNA expression in the lung tissues were obviously higher in the untreated asthma group than the control group (P<0.05), while the parameters in the IPD or BUD-treated asthma groups were significantly lower than the untreated asthma group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIPD treatment can alleviate airway inflammation in asthmatic rats, possibly through inhibiting IL-5 mRNA transcripts.

Animals ; Arylsulfonates ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Interleukin-5 ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfonium Compounds ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAllergic asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease partly characterised by high concentration of T help 2 (Th2) cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). There is no report on the relation of peripherally circulating blood lymphocytes and asthma. We explored the balance of Th2/Th1 cytokines in asthmatic mice. Exogenous recombinant interleukin (IL) 33 acted on murine peripheral circulating blood lymphocytes, IL-5 cytokine was selected for assessing Th2 cytokines and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) for Th1 cytokines.

METHODSFemale specific pathogen free BABL/c mice were sensitised by intraperitoneal injection of 20 µg of ovalbumin emulsified in 1 mg of aluminium hydroxide gel in a total volume of 200 µl, and challenged for 30 minutes in 7 consecutive days with an aerosol of 2 g ovalbumin in 100 ml of PBS. Then we collected BALF and isolated lymphocytes from the peripheral blood. The lymphocytes were divided into two groups: asthmatic group and normal group. Th1/Th2 cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.

RESULTSIn the asthma group, we found numerous eosinophils and lymphocytes on the glass slides. We then confirmed that the optimal concentration of IL-33 was 10 ng/ml and time of IL-33 stimulating lymphocytes was 24 hours. In the asthma group, the production of IL-5 was significantly increased over normal group after stimulation with IL-33 (P < 0.05) and the production of IFNγ was supressed from IL-33 stimulated lymphocytes (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-33 acts on lymphocytes of peripheral blood increasing secretion of Th2 cytokines and inhibiting secretion of Th1 cytokines.

Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukin-33 ; Interleukin-5 ; immunology ; metabolism ; Interleukins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

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

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the activation of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) on passively sensitized human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) proliferation and the synthesis and secretion function.

METHODSThrough the cultivation of primary HASMCs, we studied TLR4 expression on cell surface, cell proliferation and transformation of parturient factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in asthma under the condition of synthesis and secretion level by passively sensitized HASMCs with asthma serum.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, in passive sensitized group and TNF-alpha group TLR4 expression were significantly increased (P < 0.01), significantly enhanced proliferation (P < 0.01), total protein concentration, IgE secretion and TGF-beta1 were significantly higher (P < 0.01); and all the above parameters were increased more significantly in TNF group compared with those in the target effect of passively group; and those parameters were significantly reduced in anti-TLR4 antibody group compared with those in the target effect both of passively sensitized group and TNF-alpha group.

CONCLUSIONTLR4 on passively sensitized HASMCs activated can induce the excessive proliferation of HASMCs and a large number of synthesis and secretion of TGF-beta1, resulting in changing airway micro-environment, which involved in airway remodeling in asthma.

Airway Remodeling ; Asthma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

The prevalence of allergic diseases in children has increased for several decades. We evaluated the correlation between pollen count of weeds and their sensitization rate in Seoul, 1997-2009. Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from 3 stations around Seoul. Skin prick tests to pollen were performed on children with allergic diseases. Ragweed pollen gradually increased between 1999 and 2005, decreased after 2005 and plateaued until 2009 (peak counts, 67 in 2003, 145 in 2005 and 83 grains/m3/day in 2007). Japanese hop pollen increased between 2002 and 2009 (peak counts, 212 in 2006 and 492 grains/m3/day in 2009). Sensitization rates to weed pollen, especially ragweed and Japanese hop in children with allergic diseases, increased annually (ragweed, 2.2% in 2000 and 2.8% in 2002; Japanese hop, 1.4% in 2000 and 1.9% in 2002). The age for sensitization to pollen gradually became younger since 2000 (4 to 6 yr of age, 3.5% in 1997 and 6.2% in 2009; 7 to 9 yr of age, 4.2% in 1997 and 6.4% in 2009). In conclusion, sensitization rates for weed pollens increase in Korean children given increasing pollen counts of ragweed and Japanese hop.
Adolescent ; Allergens/*immunology ; Ambrosia/immunology/*metabolism ; Asthma/epidemiology/immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/immunology ; Male ; Pollen/*immunology ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/epidemiology/immunology ; Skin Tests