Regulation of CD23 in the chronic inflammatory response in asthma: a role for interferon-gamma and heat shock protein 70 in the TH2 environment.

BACKGROUND: Monocytic cells and alveolar macrophages (AMs) are activated in patients with asthma, producing inflammatory cytokines. This occurs despite a TH2 environment that consists of the cytokines interleukin (IL) 4, IL-10, and IL-13. The mechanism by which this occurs may involve cross-linking of the low-alphaffinity IgE receptor CD23. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the TH2 environment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) on CD23 receptor expression and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production. METHODS: We examined the effect of IL-4 and IL-13 in culture with IFN-gamma and HSP 70 on CD23 expression in both THP-1 cells and AMs from healthy controls via flow cytometry. AMs from mild asthmatic patients and THP-1 cells were evaluated for TNF-alpha production after cross-linking CD23 with immune complexes. RESULTS: Asthmatic AMs stimulated with anti-IgE exhibited a 5.7- +/- 1.9-fold increase in TNF-alpha protein. AMs from healthy controls increased the geometric mean +/- SD of CD23 2.00- +/- 0.50-fold in IL-4 and 2.14- +/- 0.50-fold in IL-13. THP-1 cells cultured with IL-4 and IL-13 then stimulated with IFN-gamma or HSP 70 increased CD23 expression above baseline as follows: IL-4, 2.16- +/- 0.31-fold; IL-13, 2.66- +/- 0.43-fold; IFN-gamma, 2.03- +/- 0.34-fold; IL-4/IFN-gamma, 9.14- to 4.02-fold; IL-13/IFN-gamma, 11.51- +/- 5.51-fold; IL-4/HSP, 5.20- +/- 0.61-fold; and IL-13/HSP, 5.60- +/- 0.79-fold. Stimulating the CD23 receptor with immune complexes significantly increased TNF-alpha production by THP-1 cells stimulated with IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-13, or a combination of these. CONCLUSIONS: Both IFN-gamma and HSP 70, in the TH2 environment, up-regulate CD23 expression and thus may play an important role in maintaining the chronic inflammatory state in asthma.     

Surveying the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in school-children in Khon Kaen, Northeastern Thailand using the ISAAC questionnaire: phase III

This is the second survey of schoolchildren in Khon Kaen, Northeastern Thailand, using the Thai version of the ISAAC questionnaire to examine the trend in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema, and to compare the results with the ISAAC Phase I data. We analyzed 5,075 questionnaires comprising 2,119 six- to seven- and 2,956 thirteen- to fourteen-year-old children (48 and 42 percent male, respectively). The cumulative vs. 12-month prevalence according to the written questionnaires were: 14.3 vs. 9.8% for wheezing, 42.6 vs. 33.3% for rhinitis and 13.5 vs. 11.2% for eczema, respectively. The cumulative vs. 12-month prevalence for the wheezing module, based on the video questionnaire, was 9.2 vs. 6.3%, respectively. Most Phase III prevalence was significantly lower than the first survey except for the steady, 12-month prevalence of wheeze. Our study confirms the high prevalence of allergic diseases among school-children in Northeastern Thailand; albeit, prevalence has not increased in recent years. The Thai version of the English-language ISAAC questionnaire needs to be validated before further use in epidemiological research.     

Collaborative investigation of the accuracy and reproducibility of Sceptor Breakpoint susceptibility panels.

A combination Sceptor Breakpoint/ID panel (Johnston Laboratories, Inc., Towson, Md.), which determines interpretive susceptibility results (susceptible, moderately susceptible, and resistant) using two to three selected concentrations of antimicrobial agents, was tested in comparison with full-range Sceptor microdilution MIC panels. The inter- and intralaboratory interpretive reproducibilities for 24 control strains tested in three laboratories on three consecutive days were 97.0 and 95.7%, respectively. The equivalency of breakpoint results to category results obtained by the microdilution MIC procedure for 10,368 control organism-antimicrobial agent comparisons was 94.1%. The level of interpretive agreement between breakpoint and MIC category results using 101 fresh clinical isolates was 97.0% for 51 gram-negative and 50 gram-positive bacteria. Among the total 4,872 clinical organism-antimicrobial agent comparisons, major and very major discrepancies were seen in 0.2% of gram-negative bacteria and very major discrepancies were seen in 0.9% of gram-positive bacteria. All very major discrepancies with gram-positive organisms were associated with trailing endpoints using trimethoprim or sulfisoxazole and staphylococci. The breakpoint concept of testing selective antimicrobial agent concentrations was highly reproducible and accurate and allows for placement of more antimicrobial agents into a panel than is possible with full-dilution MIC testing.     

A light and electron microscopic study of osteogenesis imperfecta bone samples, with reference to collagen chemistry and clinical phenotype

A detailed morphological study was carried out using light and electron microscopy on 36 bone specimens from patients suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and 20 age- and site-matched control bone specimens. The findings were grouped into the clinical types of OI according to the Sillence classification. The morphological and ultrastructural alterations observed in OI bone correlate well with clinical severity. Thus, OI type I, the mildest type, showed the least abnormalities in bone ultrastructure. OI type IV closely resembled type I, with only minor abnormalities in the bone cells and osteoid. OI type III showed abnormalities in the structure and distribution of osteoid collagen fibrils, whilst OI type II, the lethal form, revealed many varied abnormalities such as thin cortical bone, sparse trabecular bone, increased numbers of osteoclasts and osteocytes, thin osteoid with thin collagen fibrils, and patchy mineralization.     

Heterogeneity of pseudoxanthoma elasticum: delineation of a new form?

Sixty-four patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) were investigated in a nationwide study within South Africa and Zimbabwe. Thirty-nine individuals formed a distinct clinical subgroup. These persons were found exclusively among people of Afrikaner descent, whose origins are mainly derived from Dutch and French-Huguenot stock. This disorder was inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and presented mild to moderate cutaneous and cardiovascular manifestations. However, after the third decade of life severe visual impairment developed and culminated in blindness in 8 people by the age of 50. The cause of the visual defect was progressive extension of angioid streaks into the macula with neovascularization and haemorrhage. Laser therapy may have prevented further bleeding in 4 instances. The severity of ocular involvement contrasted with the mildness of the skin changes, and in this respect the condition seems to differ from previously delineated autosomal recessive forms of PXE.     

Evidence for restricted replication of rubella virus in rat glial cells in culture

Intracellular rubella virus (RV) polypeptide synthesis during a productive infection of murine fibroblasts (L2 cells) has been investigated using immune precipitation techniques. Four structural and three additional intracellular polypeptides (p75, p60, VP44, VP41, p30, VP24, and VP19) were observed following polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. However, when normal rat glial (RG) cells were infected only five polypeptides could be observed (p75, p60, VP44, VP41, and VP19). No infectious RV could be detected in tissue culture medium from flasks of infected RG cells. Calculations of relative concentrations of intracellular RV polypeptides precipitated from L2 and RG cells indicated that undetectable amounts of p30 and VP24, diminished amounts of p60 and VP19 and more than twice as much p75 were precipitated from infected RG cells. These data indicate that there is restricted replication of RV in normal rat glia.     

Center for disease control diagnostic immunology proficiency testing program results for 1976.

Over 900 laboratories participated in the Diagnostic Immunology portion of the 1976 Proficiency Testing Program, which was provided by the Center of Disease Control under the authority of the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act of 1967. One hundred specimens prepared by the Center for Disease Control for analysis were distributed on a quarterly schedule or in special surveys. Feedback from participating laboratories included over 37,500 qualitative and 33,000 quantitative responses, which were analyzed to determine individual laboratory proficiency levels. In addition, information supplied by participants in each survey helped to delineate trends in testing protocols. The specimens chosen for analysis called for a broad range of tests commonly performed in diagnostic immunology laboratories, including those for rubella antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen, bacterial antibodies, rheumatoid factor, immunoglobulins and other serum-specific proteins, and carcinoembryonic antigen. A summary of the data analysis is provided so that the laboratories can improve their overall performance levels.