Role of interleukin-17F in chronic inflammatory and allergic lung disease

IL-17 family members belong to a distinct category of cytokines that coordinate local tissue inflammation by inducing the release of pro-inflammatory and neutrophil-mobilizing cytokines. The importance of the IL-17 family in inflammatory and autoimmune disease is becoming increasingly apparent. IL-17F is a recently discovered member of the IL-17 family that has a number of biological activities through induction of various cytokines, chemokines, and mediators. IL-17A, the founding member of the IL-17 family, and IL-17F are produced by several inflammatory cells, including activated T cells, in response to infectious and antigenic stimuli. Overexpression of IL-17A or IL-17F in the lungs results in induction of CXC chemokines and neutrophil recruitment. In a case-control study of 1125 unrelated Japanese subjects, a His161 to Arg161 (H161R) substitution in the third exon of the IL17F gene was shown to be associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Functionally, this variant failed to induce cytokines and chemokines, and interestingly, was able to antagonize the activity of wild-type IL-17F. These results provide an experimental basis for the observed genetic association with chronic inflammatory lung diseases, and also suggest the potential therapeutic utility of this antagonistic variant of IL-17F. Given that asthma and COPD are complex diseases involving a number of genetic and environmental factors, the genetic impact of IL-17F H161R with regard to the development of chronic airway inflammation likely varies among individuals with different genetic backgrounds and environmental exposures.     

Neuropathology of familial tauopathy

Frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP‐17) is a hereditary progressive neurodegenerative disorder. FTDP‐17 was originally defined in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1996. Since then, more than 100 families with FTDP‐17 have been described throughout the world, including 18 families identified in Japan. Genetic studies have identified 40 different mutations in the microtubule‐associated protein tau (MAPT) gene. The clinical features of FTDP‐17 are characterized by behavioral, cognitive and motor disturbances that may occur in various combinations and degrees. Neuropathologic examination shows that various degrees of atrophy may be present in the frontal and temporal lobes, basal ganglia, amygdala and hippocampus. All the brains from patients with FTDP‐17 have also shown the presence of tau deposits in neurons and glial cells. Mutations in MAPT may result in the increased splicing of exon 10, leading to 4‐repeat tau depositions in both neurons and glial cells. MAPT mutations outside of exon 10 show 3‐ and 4‐repeat tau deposits, predominantly in neurons with less glial pathology. Neuronal pathology may resemble that of Alzheimer’s disease or Pick’s disease because of the presence of neurofibrillary tangles or Pick‐like bodies, whereas glial pathology may resemble that of progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal degeneration because of the presence of coiled bodies, tufted astrocytes or astrocytic plaques. Correlations between genetic mutations and the heterogeneity of clinical and neuropathologic features remain unclear.     

In vitro and in vivo effects of BT563, an anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody

Abstract BT563, a murine anti-IL-2R MoAb, was found to be more potent than anti-Tac in inhibiting proliferation in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Results obtained with 33 B3.1 in these experiments were similar to those with BT563. The anti-IL-2R MoAb 2A3 was shown to be a suitable agent for monitoring the effect of BT563 on peripheral blood. IL-2R-positive cells were not detected in peripheral blood samples from 1 h after the first dose until 8 days after the last dose. Plasma trough levels were measured in patients receiving 5 or 10 mg daily. The administration of BT563 to allograft recipients did not lead to clinically significant side effects.     

老年人长跑锻炼后血浆白细胞介素—1活性的变化

用刺激C_(57)小鼠胸腺细胞增生后H-TdR参入量的多少来表示IL-1活性的方法,研究长跑锻炼对老年人血浆白细胞介素-1(IL-1)活性的影响。结果表明,长跑锻炼10年以上老年人安静时血浆IL-1活性在14.7～18.7KD、3.8～7.0KD、1.5～2.6KD呈现三个淋巴细胞增生峰,分別为对照组老年人的214％、179％和146％(以对照组为100％)。对这种改变的机制和生理意义进行了讨论。     

不育患者血清精子蛋白17抗体的检测及临床意义

目的:检测抗精子抗体(AsAb)阳性不育患者血清中抗精子蛋白17(Sp17)的抗体,探讨该抗体在免疫性不育血清学诊断和免疫避孕方面的潜在应用价值。方法:用重组人Sp17作为抗原,ELISA法检测62例AsAb阳性血清中Sp17抗体阳性率及滴度,分析AsAb中抗Sp17的含量。结果:AsAb阳性血清中Sp17抗体阳性率为56.5%,男女之间差异无显著性。Sp17抗体占AsAb的(10.09±7.45)%,结果具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:Sp17是重要的精子抗原组分,血清中Sp17抗体的检测可作为不育患者辅助诊断指标,同时也提示Sp17可能是一种免疫避孕候选抗原疫苗。     

APP17肽对APP转基因小鼠学习记忆能力和海马神经细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察APP(-βamyloid precursop protein,APP)17肽(APP695中319-335肽段)对APP转基因小鼠(APP695V717I)学习、记忆能力及海马神经细胞凋亡的影响。方法3月龄的APP695转基因小鼠随机分为模型组和APP17肽治疗组,正常对照组采用月龄和性别与之相匹配的C57BL/6J小鼠。APP17肽治疗组给予皮下注射APP17肽,每只每次0.34μg,每周3次;模型组和正常对照组给予等体积NS。应用水迷宫试验观察小鼠学习、记忆功能的变化,以流式细胞技术分析海马神经细胞凋亡率和线粒体膜电位的变化。结果(1)水迷宫试验结果显示,模型组小鼠存在明显学习和记忆功能障碍,其第3、4、5天游完全程的时间[(93.22±16.35)、(86.73±20.26)、(77.13±29.35)s]和错误反应次数[(6.63±2.16)、(5.81±2.13)、(5.33±1.41)次]均较正常对照组[分别为(70.89±20.19)、(61.25±21.88)、(54.63±16.92)s和(5.01±1.93)、(2.97±0.96)、(2.31±1.01)次]增多(P<0.05);APP17肽治疗组小鼠的行为学障碍明显轻于模型组(P<0.05),其上述水迷宫检测结果与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义。(2)与正常对照组小鼠海马神经细胞凋亡发生率[(3.13±1.19)%]和线粒体膜电位[(176.39±13.88)mV]比较,模型组凋亡发生率[(8.06±2.31)%]显著增加(P<0.01)而线粒体膜电位[(97.51±15.73)mV]明显降低(P<0.01);APP17肽治疗组检测结果与正常对照组接近,海马神经细胞凋亡发生率[(4.38±1.26)%]低于模型组(P<0.01),线粒体膜电位[(168.35±19.29)mV]高于模型组(P<0.01)。结论APP695转基因小鼠存在学习和记忆功能障碍,且其海马神经细胞凋亡率增加,线粒体膜电位降低;APP17肽能够明显改善该转基因小鼠的学习和记忆能力,其作用机制可能是通过稳定线粒体膜电位及抑制凋亡发生而实现。     

白细胞介素-12基因修饰对树突状细胞表面分子表达及细胞因子分泌的影响

目的 观察白细胞介素(IL)-12基因修饰对树突状细胞(DC)表面分子及细胞因子分泌的影响.方法 采用重组逆转录病毒介导IL-12基因修饰人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)来源的Dc;ELISA法检测各组DCs和各组T细胞上清中IL-12、IL-10、IFN-γ因子的分泌水平;流式细胞仪(FACS)分析各组DC表面CD83、CD86的表达;MTT法检测DC刺激同源T淋巴细胞增殖的能力;统计学分析比较各组间的差异.结果 IL-12基因修饰使得DC高表达CD83和CD86分子,分泌高水平IL-12及IFN-γ,但对IL-10因子的分泌无明显影响,刺激同源T淋巴细胞增殖明显,诱导激活的T细胞上清中IFN-γ水平显著增高、IL-10分泌水平显著降低.结论 经IL-12基因修饰后的DC表型成熟,分泌IL-12及IFN-γ的能力增强,对IL-10因子的分泌无影响,能抑制T细胞分泌IL-10因子,优化抗原提呈的微环境.     

Clinical influence of vagotomy on postoperative acute phase response

BACKGROUND: Although there is increasing evidence suggesting that the vagus nerve functions as a connector between the nervous and immune systems in animals, little is known about the role of the vagus nerve in postoperative acute phase response in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extent of fever and acute phase protein response and the production of inflammatory cytokine during the early postoperative period were compared among the patients who had undergone total gastrectomy including truncal vagotomy (n = 13), those having distal gastrectomy with division of vagal branches (n = 14), and the patients with vagal nerve preserving gastrectomy (n = 12). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum levels of C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antirypsin, and interleukin-6 among the three groups. Also, postoperative maximum body temperature was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Vagotomy did not influence acute phase response after gastric cancer surgery. A multipathway mechanism for acute phase response including the induction of fever is suggested.     

Urinary 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in management of 21 -hydroxylase deficiency

Objectives: The study was designed to assess the reliability of measurement of 24-hour urinary 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) by radio-immunoassay (RIA) as an alternative biochemical assessment for monitoring the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21 -hydroxylase deficiency (21 -OHD) and to assess the need for sample purification by column chromatography to improve assay specificity.
Methodology: Morning serum 17-OHP was measured using RIA and 24-hour urinary pregnanetriol using gas chromatography. Twenty-four-hour urinary 17-OHP was measured in samples from 17 prepubertal patients with CAH due to 21 -OHD, and 20 normal prepubertal children as controls. In 24 urine samples, RIA of 17-OHP was performed with and without column chromatography.
Results: There was a good correlation between 24-hour urinary 17-OHP and 24-hour urinary pregnanetriol (r = 0.962, P <0.01) and between 24-hour urinary 17-OHP and morning serum 17-OHP ( r = 0.955, P <0.01). There was no significant difference in the RIA of the urine samples with and without purification by column chromatography.
Conclusions: The measurement of 24-hour urinary 17-OHP is a reliable alternative for the biochemical monitoring of 21-OHD, and RIA specificity is unaffected by omission of column chromatography.     

Influence of continuous infusion of interleukin-1 alpha on the core protein and the core protein fragments of the small proteoglycan decorin in cartilage.

Decorin, a collagen-binding small proteoglycan, is considered to have a specific function in the organization or stability of the collagen network. Therefore, alteration of its molecular properties may be of pathophysiological relevance during the development of cartilage damage. It is shown here that normal cartilage from rabbit knee-joint contains glycosaminoglycan chain-bearing core protein fragments of 39, 23, and 18 kDa, each one amounting to approximately 5-6% of the intact decorin core protein. Continuous infusion of human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha for 14 days (200 ng/day) into a knee-joint led in condylar cartilage to a reduction in the amount of intact core protein from 2 micrograms/mg wet tissue to about 1.1 micrograms/mg. The increase in its quantity found after infusion of heat-inactivated interleukin-1 was not statistically significant. The concentration of all three core protein fragments became reduced to a similar extent as the intact core protein under the influence of the cytokine, and additional fragments were not found. Surprisingly, there was a much smaller response to interleukin-1-treatment in patellar cartilage.