Differential effects of interleukin 12 and interleukin 10 on superantigen-induced expression of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) and alphaEbeta7 integrin (CD103) by CD8+ T cells

At both cutaneous and mucosal sites, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta are important regulators of chronic inflammatory disease, where cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) and alphaE integrin (CD103) may be expressed. Stimulation with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (SpeC) increased the expression of CD103 by CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. While adding IL-12 augmented the expression of CLA, superantigen-induced expression of CD103 was markedly suppressed by IL-12, which could be reversed by TGF-beta. Antibodies against TGF-beta inhibited, and a combination of anti-TGF-beta and IL-12 completely abrogated the induced CD103 expression. IL-10 strongly decreased the frequency of CLA+ and although not increasing the frequency of CD103+CD8+ T cells, the amount of CD103 expressed per cell was markedly increased. Thus, the expression of CLA and CD103 may be antagonistically regulated by IL-10 and IL-12 and the balance between these cytokines could influence the T cell migration of inflammatory cells into epithelial tissues.     

^99mTc-DTPA肾动态显像及β2-m水平在评价肾移植受者肾功能中的价值

目的：探讨^99mTc-DTPA肾动态显像半定量参数和血、尿β2-m水平测定对肾移植术后早期并发症诊断与鉴别诊断的价值。方法：28例肾移植病人术后均进行放射性核素^99mTc-DTPA肾动态显像,同时测定移植肾的肾小球滤过率（GFR）、膀胱放射性计数与移植肾放射性计数比值（B/K值）和移植肾放射性1min计数与腹主动脉放射性1min计数比值（K1min/A1min比值）。在进行放射性核素肾动态显像前所有病人均收集其血液和尿液标本,采用放射免疫分析测定血、尿β2-m水平。结果：12例肾功能正常者肾动态显像示肾血流灌注及功能良好,GFR值为（49.1±6.1）ml/min,B/K值均〉3,K1min/A1min比值为8.18±1.41;4例急性排斥反应者肾血流灌注受损程度重于功能相,GFR值为（33.2±5.3）ml/min,B/K值均〈1,K1min/A1min比值为2.59±0.86,β2-m水平以血β2-m升高明显;8例慢性排斥反应者肾血流灌注和功能相均同时受损,GFR值为（19.8±7.5）ml/min,B/K值均〈1,K1min/A1min比值为2.19±0.84,β2-m水平也以血中升高明显;2例肾小管坏死者及2例环孢素A肾中毒者肾血流灌注受损均轻于功能相,GFR值分别为（38.5±4.1）ml/min和（39.4±5.81）ml/min,B/K值均〈1,K1min/A1min比值分别为5.83±0.84和6.01±0.66,β2-m水平以尿中升高显著。结论：放射性核素肾动态显像半定量参数K1min/A1min比值和B/K值,结合肾移植病人术后血、尿β2-m水平联合分析可早期初步鉴别排斥反应的类别,可作为判断移植肾受损程度、原因及预后估测的敏感指标。     

Nasal congestion as a side effect of cromolyn sodium

Cromolyn sodium, a recently introduced antiasthmatic medication, is known occasionally to produce maculopapular and urticarial rashes, and increased bronchospasm. A patient is reported with a previously unpublished side effect of this medication, i.e., severe nasal congestion.     

心脑疾病对同步十二导联心电图多重分形谱的影响

对心脑疾病人群的同步十二导联ECG(心电图)进行多重分形特性分析,发现不同导联的多重分形曲线互不重叠。计算其十二导联平均的多重分形奇异强度分布范围以及分布范围的十二个导联间的离散特性,发现不同人群中存在互为交叉而有明显不同的结果。用十二导联多重分形Δα的平均值Δα及其离散度δα(取Δα的标准差)两个参量来描述其多重分形谱特征。发现健康人与心脏病人Δα接近,但δα相差较大;健康人与脑损伤患者δα接近,但Δα相差较大。预示着多重分形特性受到神经自律和心脏组织结构的自谐特性的双重控制,特征参数Δα与神经控制相对应,δΔ与心脏组织结构自谐特性的各向异性相对应。     

Heligmosomoides polygyrus inhibits established colitis in IL-10-deficient mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is prevalent in industrialized countries, but rare in less-developed countries. Helminths, common in less-developed countries, may induce immunoregulatory circuits protective against IBD. IL-10(-/-) mice given piroxicam develop severe and persistent colitis. Lamina propria mononuclear cells from colitic IL-10(-/-) mice released IFN-gamma and IL-12. The ongoing piroxicam-induced colitis could be partially blocked with anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody suggesting that the inflammation was at least partly IL-12 dependent. Colonization of piroxicam-treated colitic IL-10(-/-) mice with Heligmosomoides polygyrus (an intestinal helminth) suppressed established inflammation and inhibited mucosal IL-12 and IFN-gamma production. H. polygyrus augmented mucosal IL-13, but not IL-4 or IL-5 production. Transfer of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) T cells from IL-10(-/-) animals harboring H. polygyrus into colitic IL-10(-/-) recipients inhibited colitis. MLN T cells from worm-free mice did not. Foxp3 (scurfin) drives regulatory T cell function. H. polygyrus enhanced Foxp3 mRNA expression in MLN T cells that had regulatory activity. This suggests that H. polygyrus inhibits ongoing IL-10(-/-) colitis in part through blocking mucosal Th1 cytokine production. Resolution of inflammation is associated with increased IL-13 production and can be adoptively transferred by MLN T cells.     

Increased circulating interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 in pulmonary sarcoidosis

In sarcoidosis, a T helper 1 (Th1) response is an essential event and the up-regulation of interleukin-12 (IL-12) has been detected in affected disease sites. In order to investigate the clinical usefulness of circulating IL-12, we measured the serum concentrations of IL-12 by ELISA and performed immunohistochemistry using specific MoAbs for IL-12 in the lungs and scalene lymph nodes of patients with sarcoidosis. The serum concentration of IL-12 p40 was detectable in all 45 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and 18 normal controls, whereas that of IL-12 p70 was undetectable. The serum concentrations of IL-12 p40 in pulmonary sarcoidosis were significantly higher than those of the normal controls, especially in cases with abnormal intrathoracic findings detected by chest roentogenogram. The serum concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also increased compared with those of normal controls and there was a significant positive correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-12 p40 and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and lysozyme, which are known to be useful markers for disease activity in sarcoidosis, correlated well with the serum concentrations of IL-12 p40. The positive 67Ga scan group (for lung field) had significantly elevated serum IL-12 p40 levels compared with those of the negative group. No bioactivity of IL-12 p70 was detected in three sarcoid cases sera by using the IL-12 responsive cell line. Finally, the immunohistochemical approach revealed that IL-12 p40 was expressed in the epithelioid cells and macrophages of sarcoid lungs and lymph nodes. We concluded that the production of IL-12 p40 was far greater in the sera and we have demonstrated this to be a useful clinical marker for disease activity and the Th1 response in pulmonary sarcoidosis.     

人IL-12表达质粒联合含信号肽Mtb8.4基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果

目的研究结核分枝杆菌含信号肽Mtb8.4(MS)基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12(hIL-12)联合免疫小鼠后,诱导的细胞免疫应答及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。方法将40只C57BL/6N小鼠随机分为联合免疫组(MS基因疫苗 hIL-12组)、MS基因疫苗组、卡介苗(BCG)组、空载体组和PBS组。将基因疫苗、空载体和PBS,经肌内注射免疫各组小鼠,每隔3周免疫1次,共免疫3次;BCG组经尾部皮下注射1×106CFU BCG免疫1次。采用ELISA法检测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子的水平;用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测免疫小鼠细胞毒性T细胞的杀伤活性。用结核杆菌强毒株H37Rv静脉攻击小鼠后,计数肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数。对小鼠的部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,经HE染色观察组织病变的程度,经ZN染色检查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。结果联合免疫组能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,免疫小鼠脾细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ和IL-2的水平,与BCG组相当,显著高于MS基因疫苗组,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL的杀伤活性增强,对小鼠结核杆菌感染有较好的免疫保护效果。表现为小鼠肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数显著减少,组织病变明显减轻,其效果与卡介苗(BCG)组相当,但优于MS基因疫苗组。结论以hIL-12表达质粒与MS基因疫苗联合免疫后,能显著增强MS基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。     

Progressive dilated cardiomyopathy in a patient with longstanding and complete prednisone-induced hematological remission of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Summary A female patient is described in whom the diagnosis of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) with heart disease and peripheral neuropathy was made at the age of 32 years. Although prednisone induced a prompt and longstanding complete hematological remission, progressive and eventually intractable heart failure developed, and the patient died 6 years later. Endomyocardial biopsy at diagnosis showed infiltration with intact and disintegrated eosinophils and Charcot-Leyden crystals. Echocardiographic follow-up (including Doppler-Echocardiography) revealed mitral regurgitation with thickening and impaired motility of the posterior mitral leaflet, as well as progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. At autopsy, a diffuse interstitial fibrosis with patchy prominence in an eccentric hypertrophic and highly dilated heart was found. There were no significant endocardial thickening and no mural thrombi. In contrast to the findings of the initial endomyocardial biopsy, autopsy revealed no eosinophilic infiltrate.In this case, eosinophil-induced heart disease manifested as dilated cardiomyopathy, without endocardial fibrosis as originally described by Löffler. We speculate, that eosinophils have been deposited predominantly in the myocard at an early stage of disease, and — activated locally — secreted their granule proteins producing an initial damage to capillary endothelial cells and myocytes. After prednisone-induced clearance of eosinophils from blood and tissues, progressive, self-perpetuating interstitial fibrosis of the myocard and loss of myocytes eventually resulted in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.Abkürzungsverzeichnis HES idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome - UBBC unsaturated vitamin B₁₂ binding capacity - ECP eosinophil cationic protein - MBC major basic protein - EDD end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle - LA left atrium diameter - LVEDP left ventricular end-diastolic pressure - NIH National Institutes of Health     

Triptolide inhibits IL-12 production and T cell-stimulatory capacity of dendritic cells

Extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F.(TWHF ) are effective in traditional Chinesemedicine for treatment of autoimmune diseasessuch as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus ery thematosus, nephritis and asthma [1, 2]. Trip tolide, a diterpenoid triepoxide, is derived fromTWHF and is responsible for most of the immuno suppressive and anti inflammatory effects ofTWHF. Triptolide has been shown to be effectivein the treatment of autoimmune diseases, …