肾上腺髓质素对组胺诱发气道痉挛的作用

目的观察肾上腺髓质素（ＡＭ）对组胺诱发麻醉豚鼠气道痉挛的影响。方法实验分为生理盐水对照组、异丙肾上腺素０．０３μｇ／ｋｇ、０．３μｇ／ｋｇ、３μｇ／ｋｇ、３０μｇ／ｋｇ四个剂量组及ＡＭ０．０２μｇ／ｋｇ、０．２μｇ／ｋｇ、２μｇ／ｋｇ、２０μｇ／ｋｇ四个剂量组，每组豚鼠７只，戊巴比妥钠麻醉状态下，分别静脉注射生理盐水、不同剂量的异丙肾上腺素和ＡＭ，同时组胺（１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）雾化吸入，采用动物体描箱测定豚鼠气道阻力和肺顺应性。结果异丙肾上腺素０．３μｇ／ｋｇ、３μｇ／ｋｇ和３０μｇ／ｋｇ剂量下能明显拮抗组胺诱导的豚鼠气道阻力增加和肺顺应性降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＡＭ２μｇ／ｋｇ、２０μｇ／ｋｇ剂量下能明显拮抗组胺诱导的气道阻力增加，０．２μｇ／ｋｇ、２μｇ／ｋｇ，２０μｇ／ｋｇ剂量下能明显拮抗组胺诱导的肺顺应性降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论ＡＭ具有拮抗组胺诱发豚鼠气道痉挛的作用。     

哮喘气道炎症粘附机制的实验研究

目的评价细胞间粘附分子１（ＩＣＡＭ１）、Ｐ选择素在哮喘气道炎症粘附机制中的作用,进一步阐明哮喘的发病机理。方法用酶联免疫吸附试验、肺组织免疫组化检查和呼吸生理学方法系统观察正常组和哮喘组豚鼠各项指标。结果（１）哮喘组豚鼠肺潮气量、动态肺顺应性（Ｃｄｙｎ）和肺气道阻力与对照组比较差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１及Ｐ＜０．０５）。（２）哮喘组豚鼠血浆和肺泡灌洗液（ＢＡＬＦ）可溶性ＩＣＡＭ１（ｓＩＣＡＭ１）、可溶性Ｐ选择素、血清和ＢＡＬＦ嗜酸粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ＥＣＰ）与对照组比较,差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）;ＢＡＬＦ中白细胞介素８（ＩＬ８）与对照组比较差异也有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。（３）哮喘组豚鼠肺组织（气道上皮和血管内皮）ＩＣＡＭ１和ＩＬ８表达与对照组比较,差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论ＩＣＡＭ１、Ｐ选择素、ＩＬ８、ＥＣＰ参与介导了哮喘气道炎症的粘附过程     

血小板活化因子拮抗剂ONO－6240对抗原引起气道嗜酸性粒细胞浸润的影响

为探讨血小板活化因子选择性拮抗剂ＯＮＯ－６２４０治疗哮喘患者的临床应用价值，应用鸡卵清蛋白致敏和刺激小鼠复制过敏性哮喘模型，研究ＯＮＯ－６２４０对抗原引起气道嗜酸性粒细胞（ＥＯＳ）浸润的影响。结果表明，正常小鼠支气管肺泡冲洗液中未见到ＥＯＳ；致敏小鼠给予抗原反复吸入刺激后，支气管肺泡冲洗液（ＢＡＬＦ）中ＥＯＳ急剧增多（９．６８×１０￣８／Ｌ±０．７２×１０￣８／Ｌ）。在（ＯＮＯ－６２４０治疗各组中，ＯＮＯ－６２４０的剂量０．１ｍｇ／ｋｇ、１．０ｍｇ／ｋ及１０．０ｍｇ／ｋｇ分别导致ＥＯＳ数下降４２．１％（５．６０×１０￣８／Ｌ±０．９７×１０￣８／Ｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１）、５８．８％（３．９９×１０￣８／Ｌ±０．８４×１０￣８／Ｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１）及７２．６％（２．６５×１０￣８／Ｌ±０．７１×１０￣８／Ｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１）。还发现ＯＮＯ－６２４０抑制ＥＯＳ对气道的浸润伴随着白细胞介素（ＩＬ－５和ＩＬ－２）水平的明显降低。这些结果提示，ＯＮＯ－６２４０通过抑制ＩＬ－５和ＩＬ－２的产生，从而抑制了ＥＯＳ在气道的聚集；认为ＯＮＯ－６２４０用于哮喘患者的临床治疗理应取得较好的疗效。     

急性心肌缺血再灌注期间血浆白介素-8的变化和意义

目的　探讨炎症介质白介素－ ８（ＩＬ－ ８） 在急性心肌缺血再灌注期间的变化及其意义。方法　（１） 用ＥＬＩＳＡ 方法测定２８ 例溶栓治疗的急性心肌梗死（ＡＭＩ） 患者入院即刻,再灌注１、４．５、１０ 、２０ｈ 血浆ＩＬ－ ８ 的变化。（２）在兔的缺血再灌注模型上检测血浆ＩＬ－ ８,缺血心肌组织中性粒细胞聚积,髓过氧化酶（ ＭＰＯ） 和丙二醛（ ＭＤＡ）的含量。结果　（１）１３ 例溶栓治疗后血管再通,１５ 例未通。两组溶栓前ＩＬ－ ８ 均显著高于正常对照组（ Ｐ ＜０．０１） ,并持续升高２４ｈ ,但两组间无显著性差异。（２） 兔缺血１．５ｈ 血浆ＩＬ－ ８、缺血心肌组织中性粒细胞ＭＰＯ 活性及ＭＤＡ 含量明显增高;当再灌注１ｈ 和４ｈ 时升高更显著（ Ｐ＜ ０．０５ ,或Ｐ＜ ０．０１） ,且ＩＬ－ ８ 的释放与ＭＰＯ 活性呈正相关（ｒ＝ ０．６６４ ,Ｐ＜ ０．０１）。结论　ＩＬ－ ８ 在心肌缺血和再灌注期间释放,并诱导了中性粒细胞致心肌的浸润与损伤,其在临床的意义有待进一步探讨。     

慢性肝病患者血清白细胞介素－8的检测及意义

应用双单克隆抗体夹。法ＥＬＩＳＡ对９４例慢性肝病患者血清白细胞介素－８（ＩＬ－８）的水平进行了检测。结果３４例患者血清中检测出ＩＬ－８（３６．２％），检出率显著高于正常对照组（１０％，Ｐ＜０．０５），其中慢性活动性肝炎（ＣＡＮ）患者中检出率最高（６８％，Ｐ＜０．０１）。患者中测出的ＩＬ－８水平显著高于正常对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１），且与其血清胆红素（ＢＩＬ）水平呈正相关（γ＝０．４３４７，Ｐ＜０．０５）。我们的研究表明，约有１／３慢性肝病患者血清ＩＬ－８水平升高（以１５６ｎｇ／Ｌ为界值），并随肝脏炎症活动程度加重而增加，提示ＩＬ－８可能参与了慢性肝脏炎症损害过程，并能反映肝脏病变的活动状况。     

过氧化氢在老化红细胞调节T淋巴细胞分泌机制中的作用

制备老化红细胞模型，测定老化红细胞的过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）活力，利用丝裂原激活的小鼠脾细胞方法测定Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平，并利用抗氧化剂进一步探讨。结果表明：０．５×１０－３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１×１０－３ｍｏｌ／ＬＨ２Ｏ２能明显降低老化红细胞的ＣＡＴ活力（Ｐ＜０．０１），丹酚酸Ｂ５μｇ、１５μｇ能明显提高老化红细胞的ＣＡＴ活力（Ｐ＜０．０１）。５×１０５／ｍｌ、１×１０６／ｍｌ、５×１０６／ｍｌ老化红细胞对Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平有明显的提高作用。经过０．５×１０－３ｍｏｌ／ＬＨ２Ｏ２温育后的老化红细胞明显降低Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平（Ｐ＜０．０１）；再经过丹酚酸Ｂ５μｇ温育后的老化红细胞明显提高Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌水平（Ｐ＜０．０１）。由此说明Ｈ２Ｏ２可能介导老化红细胞调节Ｔ淋巴细胞ＩＬ－２的分泌活动。     

加减薯蓣丸对D－半乳糖致大鼠衰老作用的影响

５０日龄Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠每日皮下注射Ｄ－半乳糖４８ｍｇ／ｋｇ，连续４０日，造成亚急性衰老模型，在注射Ｄ－半乳糖的同时，给予加减薯蓣丸口服。结果：与对照组比较，给药组能显著恢复衰老模型大鼠红细胞超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ，分别为１３６０±３２６μｇ／ｇ·Ｈｂ及８２３±１６６μｇ／ｇ·Ｈｂ）的酶活性（Ｐ＜０．０１），降低血清过氧化脂质（ＬＰＯ，分别为４．８４±０．２０ｎｍｏｌ／ｍｌ及５．０９±０．１７ｎｍｏｌ／ｍｌ）的含量（Ｐ＜Ｏ．０１），减少脑组织脂褐素（ＬＰＦ，分别为１２．１５±４．２８μｇ／ｇ及１６．６６±２．６５μｇ／ｇ）的形成（Ｐ＜０．０５），抑制脑Ｂ型单胺氧化酶（ＭＡＯ－Ｂ，分别为３６．６５±２８．７５ｎｍｏ１／ｍｇ蛋白及８２．６１＋５１．４４ｎｍｏｌ／ｍｇ蛋白）的活性（Ｐ＜０．０５）。还观察到给药组各指标均接近于空白组（Ｐ＞０．０５）。     

地氟病黄牛红细胞膜Na-K-ATP酶活性的研究

对宁夏青酮峡广武地区饮用水、土壤水溶性氟、饲（料）草和黄牛血清氟含量进行检测，结果分别为３．２７ｍｇ／Ｌ、８．００ｍｇ／ｋｇ、５１．９７ｍｇ／ｋｇ和０．６２ｍｇ／Ｌ，均超出国家最高标准的上限。高氟黄牛红细胞膜Ｎａ－Ｋ－ＡＴＰ酶活性为０．１７８ｕｍｏｌｐｉ／ｍｇｐｒｏｔ·ｈ－１显著低于非高氟区奶牛０．２４６ｕｍｏｌｐｉ／ｍｇｐｒｏｔ·ｈ－１（Ｐ＜０．０５）。通过高氟黄牛饲料①组添加０．２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ亚硒酸钠；②组添加１５ｍｇ／ｋｇ硫酸铜；③组添加０．２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ亚硒酸钠＋１５ｍｇ／ｋｇ硫酸铜＋１ｍｇ／ｋｇ硫酸镁，进行饲喂，分别于试验的第３０天和第８３天采样分析，结果表明：高氟黄牛加硒组和加硒铜镁组血清氟含量最后与第０天的测值相比，下降极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１），红细胞膜Ｎａ－Ｋ－ＡＴＰ酶活性上升显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）和极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）；高氟加铜组黄牛血清氟含量降低显著（Ｐ＜０．０５），但对红细胞膜Ｎａ－Ｋ－ＡＴＰ酶活性没有激活作用（Ｐ＞０．０５）。从而揭示适宜剂量的硒、镁联合作用能确保细胞膜免受高氟毒害，并促进体氟排泄     

间质性肺疾病支气管肺泡灌洗液中性粒细胞趋化因子和肿瘤坏死因子水平及其临床意义

目的探讨间质性肺疾病（ＩＬＤ）时中性粒细胞趋化因子（ＮＣＦ）和肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦα）与ＩＬＤ活动性的关系。方法用膜滤过和放射免疫法检测１１例结节病、７例特发性肺间质纤维化（ＩＰＦ）患者和８名健康者血清及支气管肺泡灌洗液（ＢＡＬＦ）中ＮＣＦ活性及ＴＮＦα水平。结果７例ＩＰＦ患者ＢＡＬＦ中ＮＣＦ、ＴＮＦα分别为２０３±４４ｃｅｌｓ／１０ＨＰ、１１７±２９ｎｇ／Ｌ，明显高于８名对照组（８３±４５ｃｅｌｓ／１０ＨＰ、６５±１４ｎｇ／Ｌ、Ｐ＜０．０１）；１１例结节病患者ＢＡＬＦ中ＮＣＦ、ＴＮＦα分别为１８６±５０ｃｅｌｓ／１０ＨＰ、１２±３ｎｇ／Ｌ，明显高于８名对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＩＰＦ组ＢＡＬＦ中ＮＣＦ、ＴＮＦα均与中性粒细胞百分比呈正相关（ＮＣＦ：ｒ＝０．８９，Ｐ＜０．０１，ＴＮＦα：ｒ＝０．８６，Ｐ＜０．０５），结节病组ＢＡＬＦ中ＮＣＦ、ＴＮＦα均与淋巴细胞百分比呈正相关（ＮＣＦ：ｒ＝０．７８，Ｐ＜０．０１；ＴＮＦα：ｒ＝０．７３，Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论ＩＰＦ和结节病患者ＢＡＬＦ中ＮＣＦ、ＴＮＦα水平可做为肺泡炎活动性的标志     

哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者糖皮质激素治疗前后痰液炎性标志物的变化

目的探讨哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺疾病（ＣＯＰＤ）患者吸入糖皮质激素治疗前后痰液中细胞因子和嗜酸细胞阳离子蛋白（ＥＣＰ）浓度及糖皮质激素对其影响。方法采用荧光酶联免疫法检测糖皮质激素治疗前后痰液中白细胞介素（ＩＬ）５、ＩＬ８、ＥＣＰ浓度及嗜酸细胞和嗜中性粒细胞计数。结果哮喘患者经糖皮质激素治疗后ＥＣＰ浓度由（５００．３±４９．６）μｇ／Ｌ降至（５９．８±１０．９）μｇ／Ｌ,嗜酸细胞数由（１１．６±１．７）×１０－２降至（４．１±０．７）×１０－２,ＩＬ５浓度较治疗前差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）;ＣＯＰＤ患者ＩＬ５浓度下降不明显。结论哮喘气道炎症与嗜酸细胞激活、ＥＣＰ和ＩＬ５释放增多有关。ＣＯＰＤ气道炎症以嗜中性粒细胞数增高为主。哮喘病人吸入糖皮质激素治疗后可调节炎性细胞数量和功能,抑制细胞因子生成,从而抑制气道炎症,治疗效果优于ＣＯＰＤ患者。     

Pretreatment with aerosolized capsaicin potentiates histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether endogenous neuropeptides released from sensory nerves can potentiate airway responsiveness to histamine. Total pulmonary resistance (RL) was measured to assess the bronchial responsiveness to increasing doses of histamine (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg) administered intravenously in 29 anesthetized and artificially ventilated guinea pigs. Pretreatment with aerosolized capsaicin (3 micrograms/ml for 15 to 60 s) 30 min before obtaining the dose-response to histamine significantly potentiated percent increase in RL caused by each dose of intravenously administered histamine. Pretreatment with substance P (0.5 ml/kg of 10(-5) M) administered intravenously also potentiated the airway responsiveness to histamine. As assessed by the amount of extravasation of Monastral blue pigments, both capsaicin aerosol and substance P injected intravenously induced increased vascular permeability in the tracheal mucosa. These findings suggest that endogenous neuropeptides, especially tachykinin such as substance P, can induce airway hyperresponsiveness to nonspecific stimuli and play a possible role in producing airway hyperresponsiveness in bronchial asthma.     

香烟烟雾暴露对支气管哮喘大鼠OX-62、白介素12表达的影响

目的 研究香烟烟雾暴露对支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)大鼠肺组织树突状细胞(dendritic cell,DC)的特异性标记蛋白OX-62、血浆及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)白介素12(IL-12)表达的影响,探讨吸烟加重哮喘的免疫学机制.方法 30只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、哮喘组、暴露组;建立哮喘大鼠模型和哮喘大...     

CD86对抗原引起气道嗜酸细胞浸润和气道高反应性作用？…

目的 探讨ＣＤ８６分子对抗原引起气道炎症和气道高反应性的影响,加深认识ＣＤ８６在支气管哮喘发病机制中的作用。方法 应用鸡卵清蛋白致敏和刺激ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ小鼠以诱导嗜酸细胞（ＥＯＳ）聚集到气道,收集支气管肺泡灌洗液（ＢＡＬＦ０细胞并以流式细胞仪检测ＣＤ８６分子的表达水平;观察静脉注射抗ＣＤ８６单克隆抗体后ＢＡＬＦ中ＥＯＳ数和气道反应性的变化。     

地塞米松对支气管哮喘豚鼠白介素4、白介素5及气道反应性的影响

目的 探讨地塞米松对支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)豚鼠模型白介素4(IL-4)、IL-5水平及气道高反应性(airway hyperreactivity,AHR)的影响,为激素治疗哮喘提供理论依据.方法 实验分为3组:正常对照组、哮喘模型组和地塞米松治疗组,每组各10只豚鼠.用卵白蛋白腹腔注射致敏和雾化吸入激发建立哮喘豚鼠模型,三通管做气管插管进行机械通气,测定气道内压力以反映气道反应性,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测豚鼠血清中IL-4、IL-5含量.结果 哮喘模型组豚鼠血清IL-4、IL-5含量,分别为(38.2±3.4)ng/L和(344.4±21.8)ng/L,显著高于正常对照组,分别为(19.8±1.2)ng/L和(77.8±26.0)ng/L(P＜0.01);地塞米松组IL-4、IL-5含量,分别为(22.0±1.8) ng/L和(234.6±35.1)ng/L,均明显低于哮喘模型组(P＜0.01).哮喘豚鼠模型组气道反应性(0.013±0.014) g/L与正常对照组(0.168±0.186) g/L比较显著升高(P＜0.01);地塞米松组气道反应性(0.144±0.154) g/L与哮喘模型组比较显著降低(P＜0.01),与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 地塞米松能有效降低哮喘豚鼠AHR,其机制可能是抑制哮喘豚鼠体内IL-4、IL-5的生成.     

Role of chemical mediators in airway hyperresponsiveness in an asthmatic model

BACKGROUND: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is one of the characteristic features of human asthma. The presence of AHR and the precise mechanisms immediately after establishment of sensitization in guinea pigs are unclear, although there are many reports showing allergen exposure that causes an increase in bronchial responsiveness associated with eosinophil influx into the airway in sensitized guinea pigs. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the inhibitory effects on AHR to histamine of ONO-1078, a leukotriene antagonist; indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor; S-145, a thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) antagonist, and Y-24180, a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, to assess the involvement of chemical mediators in AHR employing ovalbumin (OA) sensitized guinea pig models. METHODS: Male Hartley guinea pigs were used. Each group comprised 4-7 animals. The animals were sensitized to OA, injecting intraperitoneally 30 mg of cyclophosphamide and 2,000 microg of OA together with 100 mg of aluminum hydroxide as the adjuvant. The guinea pigs were artificially ventilated via a cannula using a small-animal respirator after intraperitoneal anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium for tracheotomy. The pressure at the airway opening (PAO) was measured using a differential pressure transducer, and a differential pressure of peak PAO (peak DeltaPAO) at inspiratory phase as an overall index of bronchial response to bronchoactive agents was used. While being artificially ventilated, the animals were exposed to physiological saline solution containing various concentrations of histamine (4.9, 9.8, 20, 39, 78, and 156 microg/ml) by inhalation for 30 s at 3-min intervals. Determinations were made at 1 min after each inhalation. The chemical mediators were each (30 mg/kg of ONO-1078, 3 mg/kg of S-1452, and 1 mg/kg of Y-24180) administered orally to sensitized guinea pigs, and the airway response to histamine was assessed. Each group comprised 4-7 animals. RESULTS: The airway response to histamine was significantly greater in the sensitized group than in the nonsensitized group at histamine concentrations of 36 (p < 0.05), 78, and 156 mg/ml (p < 0.01). Leukotrienes C(4) and D(4): 30 mg/kg of ONO-178 did not show any inhibitory effect on airway response to inhaled histamine. Cyclooxygenase: 5 mg/kg of indomethacin did not show any inhibitory effect on the airway response to inhaled histamine. TXA(2): the AHR to inhaled histamine at doses of 9.8, 39, 78, and 156 microg/ml was significantly inhibited by prior administration of 3 mg/kg of S-1452. PAF: the AHR to inhaled histamine at doses of 9.8, 39, and 78 microg/ml was significantly inhibited by prior administration of 1 mg/kg of Y-24180. CONCLUSIONS: S-1452 (3 mg/kg) and Y-24180 (1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited AHR to histamine, while ONO-108 (30 mg/kg) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg) did not. The results suggest that TXA(2) and PAF are involved in AHR in OA-sensitized guinea pigs.     

Lipopolysaccharides promote a shift from Th2-derived airway eosinophilic inflammation to Th17-derived neutrophilic inflammation in an ovalbumin-sensitized murine asthma model

Introduction: The currently available treatments for severe asthma are insufficient. Infiltration of neutrophils rather than eosinophils into the airways is an important inflammatory characteristic of severe asthma. However, the mechanism of the phenotypic change from eosinophilic to neutrophilic inflammation has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods: In the current study, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on eosinophilic asthmatic mice sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA), as well as the roles of interleukin (IL)-17A/T helper (Th) 17 cells on the change in the airway inflammatory phenotype from eosinophilic to neutrophilic inflammation in asthmatic lungs of IL-17A-deficient mice. Results: Following exposure of OVA-induced asthmatic mice to LPS, neutrophil-predominant airway inflammation rather than eosinophil-predominant inflammation was observed, with increases in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), the IL-17A level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and Th17 cells in the spleen and in the pulmonary hilar lymph nodes. Moreover, the neutrophilic asthmatic mice showed decreased mucus production and Th2 cytokine levels (IL-4 and IL-5). In contrast, IL-17A knockout (KO) mice exhibited eosinophil-predominant lung inflammation, decreased AHR, mucus overproduction and increased Th2 cytokine levels and Th2 cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the eosinophilic inflammatory phenotype of asthmatic lungs switches to the neutrophilic phenotype following exposure to LPS. The change in the inflammatory phenotype is strongly correlated with the increases in IL-17A and Th17 cells.     

Interleukin-17 in sputum correlates with airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a novel cytokine secreted by activated human memory CD4+ T cells. In vivo IL-17 recruits neutrophils into the airways via the release of CXC chemokines (interleukin-8) from bronchial epithelial cells. Since neutrophils are implicated in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) chronic bronchitis (CB) and asthma, we hypothesized that there would be increased concentration of IL-17 in the airways of these patients. To test this hypothesis, we measured levels of IL-17 in induced sputum of COPD patients, chronic bronchitis and asthmatics and compared them with healthy controls. METHODS: Levels of IL-17 in induced sputum were measured via ELISA method in 19 COPD, 16 CB, 10 asthma and 11 control subjects. Airway responsiveness to methacholine was performed in people with FEV1 higher than 70% of predicted. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in IL-17 levels between control group and the other groups. However, levels of IL-17 in sputum of COPD patients were significantly lower than in asthma (P=0.004) and in CB (P=0.01) groups. Medians and (ranges) were as follows: asthma--37.6 pg/ml (18.8-55.7 pg/ml), CB 293 pg/ml (18.8-49.7 pg/ml) and COPD 24.6 pg/ml (0-34.1 pg/ml). Comparison of healthy control subjects (PC20 > 8 mg/ml) to a group with bronchial hyperreactivity, which consisted of asthmatics and CB patients, whose PC20 was less than 8 mg/ml, revealed that levels of IL-17 were significantly increased in the second group (P=0.02). Also, levels of IL-17 were significantly increased (P=0.02) in the asthmatic patients with bronchial hyperreactivity compared to healthy subjects. Moreover levels of IL-17 in sputum of all studied subjects correlated negatively with PC20 (r=-0.51, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results IL-17 is probably not involved in pathogenesis of stable COPD, but it may play a role in people with airway hyperresponsiveness.     

Recognition of asthma in adolescents and young adults: which objective measure is best?

BACKGROUND: Objective assessment of airway function is important in epidemiologic studies of asthma to facilitate comparison between studies. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability, and bronchodilator reversibility (BR) are widely used as markers of airway lability in such studies. Data from a survey of a population sample of adolescents and young adults (n = 609; 288 males), aged 13-23 years, were analyzed to investigate whether AHR, PEF variability, and BR can be used interchangeably as markers of asthma in an epidemiological setting. METHODS: Case history, including self-reported and doctor-diagnosed asthma, smoking habits, and use of asthma medication, was obtained by interview and questionnaire. Lung function, airway responsiveness (positive test: PC20 FEV1 < 16 mg/mL histamine), PEF variability (positive test: amplitude percentage mean > 20%), BR (positive test: deltaFEV1 [(FEV1max - FEV1min)/FEV1max) 100] > 10%), blood eosinophil count, and skin prick test reactivity were measured by using standard techniques. RESULTS: The prevalence of a positive test was AHR 16.4%, PEFpos 13.3%, and BRpos 7.2%, respectively; 73.5% of the sample had three negative tests. Among the 74 participants with current self-reported asthma (12.2%), 34 subjects (46%) had more than one positive test. Using AHR as the only objective marker of asthma identified 93% of the participants with current asthma, whereas PEF and BR identified 45% and 10%, respectively. Confining the analysis to participants with only one positive test revealed that 61% of the subjects with isolated AHR had current asthma, whereas none of the subjects with isolated BRpos had asthma, and only one participant with isolated PEFpos had current asthma. Degree of histamine responsiveness was closer associated with other asthma-related factors, including self-reported asthma, use of asthma medication, and level of lung function, than PEF variability and bronchodilator responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Airway responsiveness to histamine, diurnal peak-flow variability, and bronchodilator reversibility cannot be used interchangeably as objective markers of asthma in epidemiologic studies. On the basis of the present findings, airway hyperresponsiveness to a nonspecific bronchoconstrictor is recommended as the objective marker of asthma-related airway lability.     

过氧亚硝基阴离子在哮喘豚鼠气道高反应性中的作用

目的 探讨哮喘豚鼠内过氧亚硝基阴离子（ＯＮＮＯＯ＾－）的生成及其在哮喘气道高反应性形成中的作用。方法 １８只哮喘豚鼠模型随机分为３组：（１）哮喘组（６只）：用１０％卵蛋白１ｍｌ腹腔注射液致敏,２周后用１％卵蛋白超声雾化吸入复制豚鼠哮喘模型。（２）哮喘加氨基胍（ＡＧ）组（６只）：该喘同哮喘组,在每次诱喘前１ｈ腹腔注射ＡＧ１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ。（３）正常对照组（６只）：用生理盐水代替诱喘剂。每组哮喘豚鼠均用     

Clarithromycin might attenuate the airway inflammation of smoke-exposed asthmatic mice via affecting HDAC2

Background

Smoke has been proved to be one of the most dangerous ingredients leading to the unsatisfying treatment response of asthmatics to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy. Macrolides, a class of antibiotics, possess the traits of immunomodulation and anti-inflammation besides antimicrobial activity. Given that studies on the efficacy of macrolides on the refractory asthma patient have diverting conclusions, this article was carried on to investigate the effects of macrolide on the airway inflammation of smoke-exposed asthmatic mice.

Methods

BALB/c mice were chosen to be the subjects of this study. They were raised to establish asthma model (OVA group); and one asthma group were exposed to the smoke (SEA group), one asthma group were treat with clarithromycin (CAM group) after smoke exposure. Control group mice were used as parallel comparison. Total inspiratory resistance (RL), expiratory resistance of the lung (Re) and lung compliance (Cdyn) were the main index to evaluate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The histopathological change was studied to assess lung tissue inflammation. Cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also tested to represent airway inflammation. IL-4 and CXCL1 in BALF and serum were also used to evaluate the airway inflammation. Histone deacelytase2 (HDAC2) activity of lung tissues was measure by assay kit. HDAC2 expression in the lung tissue had been detected by western blot.

Results

Re, RL and Cdyn were monitored to represent airway responsiveness. All of the three indicators in SEA group were significantly different from control group, while clarithromycin improved airway responsiveness and the three indicator were statistically significant (P<0.01). Histopathology observation had showed massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in both OVA group and SEA group, while inflammation infiltration attenuated in CAM group. Total cell counts in SEA group was much higher than that in CAM group (P=0.019), so were neutrophils (P=0.022) and eosinophils (P=0.042); while macrophages in SEA group decreased when compared to CAM group (P=0.026), IL-4 and CXCL1 level in CAM group were significantly decreased in comparison to those in SEA group (P=0.031, P=0.017). HDAC2 activity in SEA group decreased significantly when compared to control group (P=0.010); while HDAC2 activity in CAM group was improved and significantly better than that in SEA group (P=0.038). The expression of HADC2 in CAM group improved significantly when compared to that in SEA group (P=0.022).

Conclusions

Clarithromycin could improve AHR and attenuate airway inflammation in smoke exposed asthmatic mice which may involve HDAC2. Macrolides might have the potential to serve as the adjunctive treatment to some refractory asthmatics who are smokers or passive smokers.