Mucosal IL-7-mediated immune responses in chronic colitis-IL-7 transgenic mouse model

We have demonstrated that intestinal epithelial cells produce interleukin-7 (IL-7) and IL-7 serves as a regulatory factor for proliferation of mucosal lymphocytes. To clarify the mechanism by which locally produced IL-7 regulates mucosal lymphocytes and the role of mucosal IL-7 in colonic inflammation, we investigated IL-7 transgenic (IL-7 Tg) mice and demonstrated that IL-7 Tg mice developed acute and chronic colitis with histopathological similarity to ulcerative colitis in humans. In concert with our recent findings that IL-7 stimulates the proliferation of inactivated mucosal lymphocytes but eliminates activated lymphocytes in the inflamed mucosa of human ulcerative colitis. These findings suggest that chronic inflammation in the colonie mucosa is mediated by dysregulation of epithelial cell-derived IL-7 system.     

Association of circulating TNF-α and IL-6 with ageing and parkinsonism

INTRODUCTION: We propose that the increase in TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the brain in idiopathic parkinsonism is in response to a peripheral immune/ inflammatory process, so ubiquitous as to be responsible for the resemblance between ageing and parkinsonism. METHODS: Circulating cytokine was measured in 78 subjects with idiopathic parkinsonism and 140 without, aged 30 to 90 years, all obeying inclusion/exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Serum TNF-alpha increased (P<0.0001) by 1.37 (95% CI 0.75, 2.00)% x y(-1), IL-6 by 2.63 (1.75, 3.52) (P<0.0005). TNF-alpha appeared elevated in parkinsonians whose postural and psychomotor responses were abnormal, being suppressed where they were normal: trends which contrasted with those in controls (P = 0.015 and 0.05, respectively). Parkinsonism appeared (P = 0.08) to have an effect on IL-6, equivalent to that of >10 years of ageing (28(-3, 69)%), but was not immediately related to between-subject differences in performance. CONCLUSION: Ageing and pathogenetic insult may be confounded, age being a progression, not a risk, factor.     

肾康灵冲剂治疗小儿频复发性肾病30例临床观察

目的 :通过观察肾康灵冲剂治疗小儿FRNS的临床疗效 ,旨在探讨小儿FRNS的复发原因及中药治疗的作用机理。方法 :观察 6 0例小儿FRNS ,随机分为治疗组和对照组各 30例 ,治疗组加用中药肾康灵冲剂 ,观察 2组病例的复发情况及血浆皮质醇水平和CD4/CD8比值的变化。结果 :治疗组在 3个月后血浆皮质醇水平和CD4/CD8比值逐渐回升 ,激素停药后则明显高于治疗前 (t =11.75和 9.0 5 ,P均 <0 .0 1)。而对照组治疗前后无显著差异 (t=0 .194和 2 .36 ,P >0 .0 5 )。治疗组在 0 .5年、1年和 2年随访中的复发次数和复发率均明显低于对照组。结论 :补脾益肾中药肾康灵冲剂治疗FRNS患儿可以提高机体的抗病能力 ,纠正已经紊乱的免疫功能状态 ,拮抗外源性激素对HPA轴的反馈抑制 ,保护肾上腺皮质功能 ,从而减少FRNS患儿的感染率和复发率     

农村妇儿肺通气功能免疫水平的配对分析

用配对比较的方法,探讨厨房位置和燃料不同对农村妇儿肺通气功能免疫水平的影响规律,结果是家庭月耗煤多的妇儿FEV1.0％、儿童唾液溶菌酶、血清IgG含量偏低;炉灶置宅内耗煤多的家庭儿童IgA含量偏高。说明合理布局厨房位置、设置排烟道及精选燃料,可大大改善室内空气质量,保护妇儿健康。     

Immunogenicity of a single dose of trivalent influenza vaccine including A/Philippines (H3N2): results of a field trial

During 1982, a new A(H3N2) influenza virus subtype, A/Philippines/2/82, was identified, and this strain was combined with previous A(H1N1) and B influenza virus strains in the trivalent inactivated vaccine recommended for the 1983-1984 influenza season. Prior to the widescale use of this vaccine in Israel, a group of 106 young male soldiers was vaccinated under controlled conditions. Before vaccination, antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:40 were found in 14.1% against A/Philippines (H3N2), 18.1% against A/England/333/80 (H1N1), and 13.3% against B/Singapore/222/79. Two weeks following vaccination, 78.9% of the vaccinees for whom repeated blood samples were available, had antibody titers in this range for A/Philippines (H3N2), 92.9% for A/England (H1N1), and 80.0% for B/Singapore. The vaccine was only mildly reactogenic, and there were no cases of absence from work following vaccination. Thus the antibody response of young subjects to a single dose of a vaccine containing a new A(H3N2) subtype was found to be satisfactory, and the side effects experienced were minimal.     

Immune competent cells of regional lymph nodes in colorectal cancer patients: I. Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subpopulation

Lymphocyte subpopulations of the regional lymph nodes in 20 colorectal cancer patients were measured by flow cytometry to analyze nodal lymphocytes phenotypically. Eleven patients with cholelithiasis were used as controls. Comparison of lymphocyte subpopulations between colorectal cancer and control groups revealed a significantly increased rate of Leu-12+ cells in the cancer patients. Furthermore, a significant increase of Leu-3a+ Leu-8- cells and a significant decrease of Leu-3a+ Leu-8+ cells were also found in the paracolic nodes of the cancer patients. However, Leu-2a+ Leu-15- cells were not different between the both groups. Meanwhile, in the cancer patients, the rates of Leu-4+, Leu-3a+, and Leu-3a+ Leu-8- cells were higher in the paracolic nodes compared with the intermediate nodes. Additional investigation of the correlation between clinicopathological features of the tumors and lymphocyte subpopulations, showed that Leu-12+ cells were related to the tumor size and Leu-2a+ 15- cells related to the histopathological type. The foregoing results indicate that the rates of both B and helper T cells, which may specifically participate in the antibody production, increase in the regional lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients.     

Universal rubella vaccination programme and maternal rubella immune status: A tale of two systems

Maternal rubella status was compared between local residents with non-residents who delivered in our hospital during 1998–2008. Among the 60,822 women, non-immunity was more common in the non-residents (19.9% versus 8.1%, P < 0.001). Significant difference and positive correlation with age and parity were found for both groups, but a significant inverse correlation with year-of-birth was found only in the residents. Regression analysis confirmed that birth after 1970 was associated with reduced odds of non-immunity, which indicated that the rubella vaccination programme, introduced since 1978, has succeeded in reducing the incidence of non-immunity to <5% in the youngest generation.     

复发性口腔溃疡患者血清中微量元素含量及细胞免疫功能的研究

目的 :探讨复发性口腔溃疡 (RAU)患者血清中微量元素含量及细胞免疫功能状态。方法 :采用原子吸收分光光度计检测血清中微量元素的含量 ,流式细胞仪检测外周血 T细胞亚群和 NK细胞百分比 ,ELISA法检测血清中细胞因子。结果 :RAU组血清中锌和硒的含量均明显低于对照组 (均 P<0 .0 1 ) ,而镁、铁、铜的含量与对照组之间的差别无显著性的意义 (均P>0 .0 5 ) ;RAU组外周血中 CD3 + 、CD4 + 、CD4 + /CD8+ 和 CD5 6 + 细胞 (NK细胞 )的比例均明显低于对照组 (均 P<0 .0 1 ) ,RAU组血清中 IL- 1 2产生水平明显低于对照组 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,而 IL- 1 0产生水平明显高于对照组 (P<0 .0 1 )。结论 :RAU患者存在细胞免疫功能缺陷 ,临床治疗须提高 RAU患者的细胞免疫功能 ,合理补锌和补硒对于防治 RAU有重要意义     

Vitamin D and tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is highly prevalent worldwide, accounting for nearly two million deaths annually. Vitamin D influences the immune response to tuberculosis, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased tuberculosis risk in different populations. Genetic variability may influence host susceptibility to developing active tuberculosis and treatment response. Studies examining the association between genetic polymorphisms, particularly the gene coding for the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and TB susceptibility and treatment response are inconclusive. However, sufficient evidence is available to warrant larger epidemiologic studies that should aim to identify possible interactions between VDR polymorphisms and vitamin D status.     

Polarized immune responses differentially regulate cancer development

Summary: Tumor-associated immune responses assert varied responses toward developing neoplasms that can either act to eradicate malignant cells via engagement of potent cytotoxic programs or alternatively enhance tumor growth through release of multifunctional pro-tumor mediators. Seemingly paradoxical, these disparate activities reflect a continuum of polarization (or activation) states possible for distinct leukocyte subsets that demonstrate tissue, organ, and tumor selectivity. Herein, we review clinical and experimental studies investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms utilized by neoplastic tissues to alternatively polarize immune responses that favor either pro- or anti-tumor immunity.