sq-23377 and Asthma

Topics: Allergens; Asthma; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cells, Cultured; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Clone Cells; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Inflammation; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Activation; Phytohemagglutinins; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; Staining and Labeling; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Topics: Animals; Asthma; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cyclosporine; Gene Expression; Humans; Interleukin-5; Ionomycin; Tacrolimus; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Transcription, Genetic

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) strongly initiates the asthmatic inflammatory response, which affects 300 million patients with asthma annually worldwide, through oxidative stress generation. Citrus flavonoids have beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but the precise molecular mechanism of the inhibition of the asthmatic inflammatory response is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of ROS and IL-5 reduction with citrus flavonoid treatment in PMA/ionomycin-induced EL-4 cells. Our results showed that hesperetin and gardenin A dramatically suppressed ROS and IL-5 production through distinct pathways. Interestingly, hesperidin induced HO-1 expression through the transcription factor Nrf2 coupled with the PI3K/AKT or ERK/JNK signaling pathway, consequently downregulating NFAT activity and IL-5 secretion. Likewise, gardenin A induced HO-1 expression and subsequently suppressed IL-5 production by reducing NFAT activity and upregulating PPARγ in EL-4 cells, suggesting that inducing HO-1 expression may inhibit asthmatic inflammation. Altogether, hesperidin and gardenin A have great potential for regulating the asthma-associated immune responses through antioxidant properties.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Cell Line, Tumor; Citrus; Flavonoids; Inflammation; Interleukin-5; Ionomycin; Mice; Reactive Oxygen Species

There is evidence that excessive use of inhalational beta(2)-agonists induces the deterioration of asthma. Although the exact mechanism of this remains to be elucidated, overuse of beta(2)-agonists may impair the Th1/Th2 balance in asthmatic airways. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether salbutamol, a representative inhalational beta(2)-agonist, modifies the production of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines by mononuclear cells separated from patients with asthma and healthy volunteers.. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 8 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with mild persistent asthma allergic to house dust mites were treated with either salbutamol or medium alone. PBMCs were then stimulated with either medium alone, house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farina, Df) allergen or a combination of ionomycin plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate ester (PMA). Concentrations of IFN-gamma, IL-13, TNF-alpha and RANTES in the cell supernatants were measured using ELISA.. In PBMCs from healthy volunteers, salbutamol did not modify IFN-gamma production, but increased the spontaneous production of IL-13. In contrast, salbutamol significantly inhibited the spontaneous and ionomycin- plus PMA-stimulated production of IFN-gamma by PBMCs from asthmatics. Salbutamol significantly enhanced both spontaneous and Df-induced production of IL-13 by PBMCs from asthmatics. Salbutamol did not modify the production of TNF-alpha. Finally, salbutamol enhanced the production of RANTES induced by Df allergen in asthmatics.. Salbutamol inhibits IFN-gamma and enhances IL-13 production by PBMCs from asthmatics. These effects would promote a Th1/Th2 imbalance in the airways and may therefore contribute to the deterioration of asthma.

Topics: Adult; Albuterol; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Asthma; Chemokine CCL5; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-13; Ionomycin; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Middle Aged; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Young Adult

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been proposed as a therapeutic target for bronchial asthma as it plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. We developed an in vitro test system measuring transcriptional downregulatory activities on IL-13 as a primary screening method to select drug candidates from natural products. The promoter region of IL-13 (-2,048 to +1) was cloned into the upstream of a luciferase gene in the plasmid pGL4.14 containing the hygromycin resistance gene as a selection marker, generating pGL4.14-IL-13. The EL-4 thymoma and RBL-2H3 mast cells transiently expressing this plasmid highly produced the luciferase activities by responding to PI (PMA and ionomycin) stimulation up to 8-fold and 13-fold compared with the control, respectively, whereas cyclosporin A, a wellknown antiasthmatic agent, significantly downregulated the activities. The BF1 clone of RBL-2H3 cells constitutively expressing pGL4.14-IL-13 was established by selecting surviving cells under a constant lethal dose of hygromycin treatment. The feasibility of this system was evaluated by measuring the downregulatory activities of 354 natural products on the IL-13 promoter using the BF1 clone. An extract from Morus bombycis (named TBRC 156) significantly inhibited PI-induced luciferase activities and IL-13 mRNA expression, but not the protein expression. Fisetin (named TBRC 353) inhibited not only PI-induced luciferase activities and mRNA expression, but also the IL-13 protein secretion, whereas myricetin (named TBRC 354) could not suppress the IL-13 expression at all. Our data indicated that this in vitro test system is able to discriminate the effects on IL-13 expression, and furthermore, that it might be suitable as a simple and time-saving primary screening system to select antiasthmatic agents by measuring transcriptional activities of the IL-13 promoter.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Carcinogens; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclosporine; Down-Regulation; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Interleukin-13; Ionomycin; Ionophores; Mice; Rats; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Transcription, Genetic

Immune response after viral infection usually involves T(H)1-mediated response; however, severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection appears to be associated with the development of asthma, a T(H)2-predominant phenotype.. To understand the early and subsequent immunologic response to a serious RSV infection in children over time.. A total of 206 previously healthy infants hospitalized with severe RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled in a prospective cohort called the RSV Bronchiolitis in Early Life study. Peripheral blood T cells were obtained immediately after RSV infection and at 2, 4, and 6 years of age, stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin, and analyzed for IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-gamma by flow cytometry and real-time PCR.. Of the children, 48% (n = 97) developed asthma (physician-diagnosed), and 48% (n = 97) had eczema by age 6 years; 32% (n = 48 of 150) developed allergic sensitization by 3 years of age. Children with asthma had lower IL-13 expression at 6 years of age than those without (P = .001). IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-4 levels did not differ by asthma or eczema status during follow-up (all P > .05). Allergic sensitization was not associated with differences in cytokine levels during follow-up (all P > .05).. Severe RSV infection early in life is associated with a high incidence of asthma and eczema. Contrary to expectations, subsequent immunologic development in those who developed asthma, eczema, or allergic sensitization was not associated with a T(H)2 phenotype in the peripheral blood.

Topics: Age Factors; Asthma; Bronchiolitis, Viral; Carcinogens; Cells, Cultured; Child, Preschool; Cytokines; Eczema; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Ionomycin; Ionophores; Male; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are important pro-inflammatory mediators in bronchial asthma (BA) and are derived from arachidonic acid by the action of 5-lipoxygenase. We identified a novel polymorphism, c.760 G>A (E254K), in exon 6 of the 5-lipoxygenase gene (5-LO). This substitution was detected in 11 out of 180 patients with BA, but not in any of the 150 non-allergic subjects. The frequency of c.760 G>A showed a significant difference between BA and non-allergic subjects (P=0.0007). The c.760 G>A polymorphism existed at the surface edge of the C-terminal catalytic domain, and the E-to-K substitution changed the charge of the side chain from negative to positive. Thus, our results suggest that E254K in the 5-LO might be associated with BA.

Topics: Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Asthma; Base Sequence; Child; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Glutamic Acid; Humans; Ionomycin; Leukotriene B4; Leukotriene E4; Lysine; Male; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Neutrophils; Polymorphism, Genetic; RNA, Messenger; Structural Homology, Protein

The role of the type-2 T helper (Th2) cell-mediated immune response in the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is well documented. Whether polarized immunoresponse is confined to antigen-specific T cells or is distributed among all T cell subsets is still controversial. We investigated frequencies of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) producing CD3(+) and CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood from children with atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects with and without in vitro stimulation. Children with severe AD had a significantly lower percentage of CD4(+) T cells spontaneously expressing IL-4 compared with healthy controls (p <0.01). Polyclonal stimulation significantly increased cytokine production in both AD patients and healthy individuals. Frequencies of CD3(+) and CD4(+) producing IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha after in vitro stimulation with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) + ionomycin were comparable in the AD and control groups. In response to PMA/ionomycin, children with AD and asthma symptoms had a significantly lower percentage of CD3(+) T cells producing TNF-alpha. We failed to demonstrate evidence of an imbalance with respect to type-2 cytokine productions in children with AD. Comparable induction of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in polyclonally stimulated peripheral CD3(+) and CD4(+)T cells from AD patients and controls puts into question the polarized Th2 immune response as a general characteristic of T cells in children with atopic dermatitis.

Topics: Adolescent; Asthma; CD3 Complex; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytokines; Dermatitis, Atopic; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Count; Phorbol Esters; Severity of Illness Index; Statistics, Nonparametric; T-Lymphocytes

IL-9 is an important cytokine in allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, etc. T helper (Th) cells seem to be the main source of IL-9. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of IL-9 production by human Th cells have been poorly understood.. Dermatophagoides farinae(Der f)-specific Th clones were established from peripheral blood lymphocytes of atopic asthmatics, and cytokine synthesis in response to various stimuli was determined by specific ELISAs.. IL-9 was produced by 14 of 27 human Th clones upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, immobilized anti-CD3 antibody (Ab). IL-9 production was significantly enhanced by the addition of anti-CD28 Ab into the culture, indicating the role of costimulatory signal on IL-9 synthesis. Pharmacologically, IL-9 production was induced by ionomycin (IOM) alone, and enhanced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). rIL-2 induced IL-9 production by 8 out of 19 Th clones. IL-9 production by Th clones stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 Ab was significantly suppressed by the addition of anti-IL-2 neutralizing Ab into the culture.. Approximately half of the Der f-specific Th clones derived from atopic asthmatics produced IL-9 upon TCR stimulation. Ca(2+) signal, CD28 signal, and IL-2 receptor signal seem to play important roles in IL-9 production by human Th cells. Moreover, synthesis of IL-9, a Th2 cytokine, is dependent on IL-2, a Th1 cytokine, which is produced by Th cells themselves.

Topics: Allergens; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Asthma; Calcium Signaling; CD28 Antigens; CD3 Complex; Cells, Cultured; Clone Cells; Dermatophagoides farinae; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-5; Interleukin-9; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Activation; Muromonab-CD3; Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell; Receptors, Interleukin-2; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tissue Extracts; Up-Regulation

Airway pathologies have been comprehensively researched in adult asthma, but in children, the extent of airway inflammation associated with episodic wheeze, often diagnosed as asthma, has not been fully characterized. It is not clear whether persistent airway inflammation is present in the absence of wheezing symptoms, and there is controversy regarding the role of age and atopy. This study assessed cellular and cytokine markers of airway inflammation in asymptomatic children with a history of episodic wheeze. Children with a history of episodic wheeze and cough (study group) and nonasthmatic patients requiring elective surgery (control group) were recruited. All subjects in the study group had a history of significant episodic wheezing (>2 episodes per year), and used only as-needed beta-agonist treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained using bronchoscopic lavage (study group) and nonbronchoscopic lavage (control group). Differential cell counts of BAL and flow cytometry were performed to identify T-lymphocyte phenotypes, and intracellular cytokine profiles were measured after phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation of BAL fluid T-cells. Twenty-one children with a history of 2-12 episodes of wheeze per year and 21 nonasthmatic subjects without respiratory symptoms were recruited. Study and control subjects were matched for age (median age, 5 years) and demographic characteristics. Study subjects had higher IgE levels, but their measurements were still within normal range. No significant differences in BAL differential cell counts were noted, and in both groups, the majority of T-cells were CD3+ CD8+, with a median CD4:CD8 ratio of 0.6. There was no significant difference in T-cell expression of the activation markers HLA-DR and CD25 (IL-2 receptor), or in PMA-induced production of the intracellular cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. The results of this study suggest that significant T-cell-driven airway inflammation is absent in mild or nonatopic, asymptomatic children of this age group who have episodic wheeze. Our findings support asthma management guidelines that do not recommend long-term treatment of this group of patients with anti-inflammatory medications.

Topics: Asthma; Brefeldin A; Bronchi; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; CD3 Complex; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Count; Child; Child, Preschool; Eosinophils; Female; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Inflammation; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Interleukins; Ionomycin; Lymphocytes; Male; Neutrophils; Respiratory Sounds; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Increased Th2 cytokine production in asthma is widely accepted, but excess production by asthmatic human airway CD4(+) T cells has not been demonstrated, nor has a relationship with disease severity. The importance of airway CD8(+) T cell type 1 and type 2 cytokine production in asthma is unknown. We investigated frequencies of IFN-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) blood and sputum T cells from normal subjects and subjects with asthma and compared between cell subsets, subject groups, and body compartments with and without in vitro stimulation and investigated relationships between cytokine production and asthma severity. Production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma by unstimulated sputum CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was increased in subjects with asthma and related to disease severity, more for CD8(+) than for CD4(+) T cells. Frequencies of sputum CD8(+) T cells producing type 1 and type 2 cytokines were similar to those of CD4(+) T cells. In vitro stimulation polarized peripheral blood cytokine production toward IFN-gamma production, significantly more in subjects with asthma than in normal subjects. These data demonstrate increased type 1 and 2 cytokine production in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in sputum and relate production to disease severity. Findings in blood did not reflect those in airways.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Bronchi; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Eosinophils; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Ionomycin; Ionophores; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Count; Sputum; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

T lymphocytes play a fundamental role in the initiation and regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in patients with asthma. CD69 is an early marker of T-cell activation. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) and L-selectin have been reported to increase in patients with allergic diseases and asthma. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the expression of CD69, CD54, and L-selectin by T lymphocytes of children with asthma, before and after immunotherapy. Eighteen children newly diagnosed with asthma, 11 good and nine poor responders to immunotherapy, and 16 normal subjects, were enrolled in this study. The percentages of CD69+, CD54+, and CD62L+ cells in T lymphocytes were measured by using flow cytometry. The levels of CD69, CD54, and CD62L in serum and culture supernatants were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of CD69 and CD54 on CD3+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in children with asthma than in control patients. All the patient groups expressed (spontaneously and following stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin together with mite-extract proteins) greater amounts of CD69 and CD54 than did control subjects. With long-term immunotherapy, the percentages of CD69+ and CD54+ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in patients with a good response to immunotherapy. Our results also showed significantly lower serum L-selectin levels following immunotherapy. In conclusion, successful immunotherapy resulted in decreased expression and production of CD69 and CD54. These results may explain, in part, the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy.

Topics: Adolescent; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Asthma; Biomarkers; Carcinogens; Child; Child Welfare; Desensitization, Immunologic; Female; Flow Cytometry; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Ionomycin; Ionophores; L-Selectin; Lectins, C-Type; Male; Severity of Illness Index; T-Lymphocytes; Taiwan; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Treatment Outcome

Interleukin (IL)-13 has been associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis, all conditions where an imbalance in epithelial fluid secretion and absorption could impact upon the disease. We have investigated the effects of IL-13 on the ion transport characteristics of human bronchial epithelial cells cultured at an apical-air interface. Ussing chamber studies indicated that 48 h pretreatment with IL-13 or IL-4 significantly reduced the basal short-circuit current (I(sc)) and inhibited the amiloride-sensitive current by >98%. Furthermore, the I(sc) responses were increased by more than six- and twofold over control values when stimulated with UTP or forskolin, respectively, after cytokine treatment. The IL-13-enhanced response to UTP/ionomycin was sensitive to bumetanide and DIDS and was reduced in a low-chloride, bicarbonate-free solution. Membrane permeablization studies indicated that IL-13 induced the functional expression of an apical Ca(2+)-activated anion conductance and that changes in apical or basolateral K(+) conductances could not account for the increased I(sc) responses to UTP or ionomycin. The results indicate that IL-13 converts the human bronchial epithelium from an absorptive to a secretory phenotype that is the result of loss of amiloride-sensitive current and an increase in a DIDS-sensitive apical anion conductance.

Topics: 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; Amiloride; Asthma; Body Fluids; Bronchi; Bumetanide; Calcium; Cell Count; Cells, Cultured; Chlorides; Colforsin; Diuretics; Epithelial Cells; Goblet Cells; Humans; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-4; Ionomycin; Ionophores; Membrane Potentials; Phenotype; Potassium; Respiratory Mucosa; Uridine Triphosphate

In this study, we report on the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokine responses to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + ionomycin-stimulated CD3+ lymphocytes in asthmatic subjects when compared with normal donors. There was a significantly lower production of intracellular IFN-gamma in asthmatic patients. No difference was found for IL-4 production between these two groups. After administration of a multivitamin-mineral supplement containing selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E for 6 mo, a significant increase in the percentage of CD3+/IL-4 positive cells (p < 0.05) was found. The induction of endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and whole-blood mixture was studied using flow cytometry. The ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions were higher in the patients than in control donors (p < 0.05). There is a correlation between the increased percentage of CD3+/IFN-gamma positive cells and reduced endothelial ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression after 6 mo of intervention period. No apparent effect of supplementation on CAM expression was found, suggesting that these changes do not arise from an antioxidant mechanism. This newly developed whole-blood technique for the assessment of CAM expression can be of use for monitoring therapy in inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Aged; Antioxidants; Asthma; Case-Control Studies; CD3 Complex; Cells, Cultured; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Ionomycin; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Minerals; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Vitamins

An immunocytochemical staining method has been developed for simultaneous staining of both cell surface markers (CD4 and CD8) and intracellular cytokine proteins IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5. Cell surface molecules were visualized with alkaline phosphatase, which was developed by Fast Blue BB. Intracellular cytokine proteins were detected by amino-ethyl carbazole. We applied this technique to T cells from T-cell lines and T-cell clones, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid cells. Cells were used either unstimulated or stimulated for 4 h with 1 ng/ml PMA and 1 microg/ml ionomycin, which proved to be an optimal stimulus taking cytokine staining, cell recovery and cell viability into account. We studied peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects and found that without in vitro stimulation on average 0.4% of the cells were IFN-gamma positive cells. In unstimulated broncho-alveolar lavage fluid cells of the 2 allergic asthmatic subjects studied so far we found higher numbers of cytokine-positive cells (up to 22% of the lymphocytes being IL-4+ cells). By in vitro stimulation, the numbers of cytokine-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the healthy subjects were increased to maximally 5% IFN-gamma+ cells. In stimulated lavage fluid cells from allergic asthmatic subjects maximally 34% of the lymphocytes became IFN-gamma+. We conclude that this method allows detection of intracellular cytokine proteins in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells without the need for stimulating the cells in vitro. In vitro stimulation may change the cytokine profile detected.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cell Count; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Recent studies have demonstrated that pulmonary surfactant protein (SP)-A plays a potential role in modifying inflammation and immune function. To see whether SP-A could modify IL-8 production and release by eosinophils stimulated with ionomycin, SP-A purified from surfactant recovered from patients with alveolar proteinosis was added to eosinophils isolated by the negative-selection method with immunomagnetic beads, and cultured for 24 h. The concentrations of IL-8 in the cell-free supernatants and cell lysates were then measured by ELISA. SP-A attenuated the production of IL-8 by eosinophils in a concentration-dependent manner. SP-A also attenuated the release of IL-8 from the eosinophils. The addition of SP-A antibody (PE10) reversed these effects of SP-A completely. These data suggest that SP-A may have the potential to modify allergic inflammation by inhibiting the release and production of IL-8 by eosinophils.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Asthma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eosinophils; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammation; Interleukin-8; Ionomycin; Lung; Proteolipids; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; Pulmonary Surfactants

Atopic asthma is characterized by bronchial mucosal inflammation, involving eosinophils, mast cells, and lymphocytes. It has been suggested that the development and maintenance of this allergic inflammation is due to T-lymphocyte activation with predominant production of the cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-5. To address the ability of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T-cells to generate IL-2, IL-4, or interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), we have employed a flow cytometric method which permits analysis of cytokine production at the single cell level within 5 h of obtaining cell samples. When stimulated with PMA and ionomycin, there was a greatly increased percentage of IFN-gamma-producing cells among bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) T-cells from the subjects with asthma (median 74%), compared with atopic and nonatopic controls (35 and 43%, respectively; P>0.01). The proportion of BAL T-cells producing IL-4 was small (median 1.7%, range 0 to 7.8% in the asthmatic group). In all three groups, the proportion of BAL T-cells producing IL-2 or IFN-gamma was increased compared with T-cells from peripheral blood. There was no significant difference between the three groups in the percentage of BAL T-cells producing IL-2, or in the percentage of peripheral blood T-cells producing IFN-gamma, IL-2 or IL-4. These findings indicate that IL-4 production is confined to a relatively small proportion of airway and blood T-cells and that there is selective enhancement of IFN-gamma production by airway T-cells in asthma.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cytokines; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-4; Ionomycin; Kinetics; Male; T-Lymphocytes; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

IL-5 was produced in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of mite-sensitive atopic patients upon challenge with specific allergen, while PBMC of healthy controls produced essentially no IL-5. Stimuli delivered by the combination of phorbol ester and Ca2+ ionophore induced marked IL-5 production by PBMC obtained from atopic and non-atopic asthmatics, suggesting that both protein kinase C and Ca2+ influx are required for IL-5 production. CD2- or CD4-bearing cell depletion almost completely removed IL-5-producing cells while CD8-bearing cell depletion rather enriched them. These findings indicate that CD4+ T cells are the principal source of IL-5 in PBMC. The capacity of PBMC of atopic asthmatics, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy controls to produce IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma was compared, to find that cytokine-producing capacities other than that of IL-5 (IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma) were not significantly different among the three groups. Dexamethasone, FK506 and cyclosporin A suppressed IL-5 production in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Clear dose-dependent suppression of IL-5 gene expression by FK506 was also observed. Treatment of asthmatic patients with inhaled glucocorticoid (beclomethasone dipropionate) ameliorated clinical symptoms, improved lung function and markedly suppressed IL-5 production by PBMC, suggesting the essential role of IL-5 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma and the clinical importance of its regulation.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Asthma; Base Sequence; Beclomethasone; Calcium; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cells, Cultured; Cyclosporine; Dexamethasone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glucocorticoids; Glycoproteins; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Activation; Mites; Molecular Sequence Data; Protein Kinase C; Signal Transduction; Tacrolimus; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate