Dual function of Langerhans cells in skin TSLP-promoted TFH differentiation in mouse atopic dermatitis

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The effect of immunotherapy on eosinophil accumulation and production of eosinophil chemotactic activity in the lung of subjects with asthma during natural pollen exposure

Two groups of birch pollen--allergic patients with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma were followed during two consecutive birch-pollen seasons, one group, N = 10, during a season with high pollen load, and one group, N = 15, during a season of low pollen load. Half the patients were treated with immunotherapy (IT) for 3 and 4 years, respectively. The other half of the patients served as control group (non-IT). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed once before each season and once during the pollen season. Eosinophil (EOS) numbers in BAL were increased (p less than 0.01) during the season with high pollen load but not in the season with a low pollen load, and this increment was absent in the IT-treated group. Also, the EOS cationic protein levels were raised in the non-IT-treated group during the season with a high pollen load. The levels of EOS and neutrophil chemotactic activity were raised in BAL in both seasons in the non-IT-treated group compared with the IT-treated group (p less than 0.02, p less than 0.003, p less than 0.04, and p less than 0.005 in high- and low-load pollen season, respectively). Serum and BAL eosinophil chemotactic activity (ECA) were positively correlated (p less than 0.001). We conclude that there is an influx of active EOSs into the lung of pollen-allergic patients with asthma during a pollen season, which may be abrogated by IT. Furthermore, the generation of ECA appears to be an extremely sensitive marker of antigenic exposure, and the potent inhibition of the generation of ECA by IT may provide a clue as to the mechanism of this treatment.     

Polymorphism in RANTES chemokine promoter affects extent of sarcoidosis in a Japanese population

RANTES, a member of C-C chemokine, is known to be produced at sites of granulomatous reactions in the lung of sarcoidosis. RANTES is a potent eosinophil and lymphocyte attractant with particular preference for CD45RO+ T cells and eosinophils. Polymorphism of the RANTES promoter has recently been shown to be related to allergic and infectious diseases; atopic dermatitis, asthma, and polymyalgia rheumatica. Considering that this might affect sarcoidosis, we studied polymorphism of the RANTES gene in 114 patients with sarcoidosis and 136 healthy control subjects. Their genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Although no difference in the genotype distribution between healthy control subjects and sarcoidosis patients was identified, the difference in the frequencies of the patients with three or more organ involvement was significant (P<0.01) with the frequency of those in AA genotype being elevated (P<0.05). BAL findings in 48 out of 114 patients who underwent bronchoscopy were reviewed. The CD4/8 ratio of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the patients with AA genotype was significantly increased (P<0.05). From the results, we suggest that in RANTES gene polymorphism the homozygous A allele might be a genetic risk factor for extent disease of sarcoidosis.     

鼻腔外侧壁的应用解剖

在60个头颅(男34,女26)120侧鼻腔外侧壁上观察测量了以下诸结构,结果:上鼻甲长15.9±2.9mm,宽4.7±1.1mm;中鼻甲长36.5±3.3mm,宽10.4±3.4mm;下鼻甲长42.7±3.6mm,宽12.3±1.7mm;半月裂长16.6±2.3mm;钩突长20.7±3.1mm,宽4.3±1.7mm;筛泡长19.2±4.1mm,高6.5±2.1mm,另外还测量了前鼻棘距上述各结构的距离.     

Organization of secondary lymphoid tissue and local IgE formation to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins in nasal polyp tissue

BACKGROUND: Bilateral nasal polyposis (NP) is characterized by high concentrations of IgE in NP tissue, which show no relation to the atopic status. We aimed to study the relationship between systemic and local IgE formation, nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and nasal polyposis. METHODS: In serum and nasal tissue homogenates from 24 NP patients and 12 controls, we determined concentrations of total IgE and IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens and S. aureus enterotoxins (SAEs; A,B,C,D,E,TSST) by ImmunoCAP. Tissue cryosections were stained for CD3, CD20, CD38, CD23, FcepsilonRI, IgE and SEA/SEB. RESULTS: We demonstrated a higher incidence of S. aureus colonization (17/24) and IgE antibodies to SAEs in NP tissue (12/24) compared with controls (3/12 and 0/12, respectively). Total IgE and IgE antibodies in serum and NP tissue were dissociated because of local polyclonal IgE formation in NP tissue. Staining of NP tissue revealed follicular structures characterized by B and T cells, and lymphoid accumulations with diffuse plasma cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the organization of secondary lymphoid tissue in polyp tissue and a polyclonal hyper-immunoglobulinemia E associated with the presence of IgE antibodies to SAEs, colonization with S. aureus, and tissue eosinophilia in a relevant subgroup of polyp patients.