IL-13 R110Q, a Naturally Occurring IL-13 Polymorphism, Confers Enhanced Functional Activity in Cultured Human Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-13, a Th2-type cytokine, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma through its direct effects on airway smooth muscles. A naturally occurring IL-13 polymorphism, R110Q, is strongly associated with increased total serum IgE levels and asthma. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the IL-13 R110Q variant would display different biochemical properties or altered functions in comparison with wild-type (WT) IL-13 in cultured human bronchial smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs). METHODS: Culture supernatants and cell proteins were collected from cultured hBSMCs that were treated with 50 ng/mL IL-13 or IL-13 R110Q for 24 hours. Eotaxin released into hBSMC culture medium was determined by ELISA. The expression levels of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) alpha-chain, smooth muscle-specific actin alpha chain (alpha-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SmMHC), and calreticulin in the cells were measured on Western blots. RESULTS: Compared with WT IL-13, treatment with the IL-13 R110Q variant resulted in a significant increase in eotaxin release as well as significant, although modest, increases in the expression levels of alpha-SMA, SmMHC, calreticulin, and FcepsilonRI alpha-chain. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggenst that the IL-13 R110Q variant may enhance enhanced functional activities in hBSMCs.

IL-13 R110Q, a Naturally Occurring IL-13 Polymorphism, Confers Enhanced Functional Activity in Cultured Human Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-13, a Th2-type cytokine, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma through its direct effects on airway smooth muscles. A naturally occurring IL-13 polymorphism, R110Q, is strongly associated with increased total serum IgE levels and asthma. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the IL-13 R110Q variant would display different biochemical properties or altered functions in comparison with wild-type (WT) IL-13 in cultured human bronchial smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs). METHODS: Culture supernatants and cell proteins were collected from cultured hBSMCs that were treated with 50 ng/mL IL-13 or IL-13 R110Q for 24 hours. Eotaxin released into hBSMC culture medium was determined by ELISA. The expression levels of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) alpha-chain, smooth muscle-specific actin alpha chain (alpha-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SmMHC), and calreticulin in the cells were measured on Western blots. RESULTS: Compared with WT IL-13, treatment with the IL-13 R110Q variant resulted in a significant increase in eotaxin release as well as significant, although modest, increases in the expression levels of alpha-SMA, SmMHC, calreticulin, and FcepsilonRI alpha-chain. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggenst that the IL-13 R110Q variant may enhance enhanced functional activities in hBSMCs.

Effect of Loratadine combined with de-escalation therapy for wheeze in infants / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objeetive To evaluate the efficacy of loratadine combined with de-escalation therapy for infant wheeze.Methods One hundred out-patients from Dec.2011 to Apr.2012 were randomly divided into 2 groups:Loratadine combined with de-escalation therapy was adopted in Loratadine group,while no Loratadine was taken in control group.The dose of Loratadine was 0.3 mL/(kg · d),14 days ; oral Prednisone 0.5 mg/(kg · d),3 days; Azithromycin 10 mg/(kg · d),3 days; Tulobuterol patch 0.5 mg/d,7 days; Montelukast 4 mg/d,14 days.Control group abolished Loratadine,but the rest of drugs were same as Loratadine group.Results The respiratory symptoms (gasp,wheeze sound,phlegm removal difficulty) and the nasal symptoms (including nasal congestion,sneeze,runny nose)in the acute phase of infant wheeze all had therapeutic effect,and there were significant differences in scoring symptoms (all P ＜ 0.05).The Loratadine group had certain treatment effect on eczema.The cough symptoms in 3 days,7days,14 days of the treatment had statistically significant differences between the both groups (all P ＜ 0.05).And there were statistical differences in eczema symptom of the Loratadine group in 7 days and 14 days of treatment (all P ＜ 0.05).Control group still had no statistical differences (all P ＞ 0.05).Days of improvement in symptoms,wheeze recurrence rate and frequency of respiratory infections in I month between 2 groups had no significant differences.Conclusions Loratadine can obviously improve the patients' breathing cough symptoms,and play a certain role in the treatment combined with de-escalation therapy in infant wheezing,and has high safety and eczema therapy effect.Loratadine can be used in clinic personally according to the patient's condition.

EGR-1 mRNA expression during 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced K562 cell differentiation / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) plays an important role in precipitating cell differentiation for various tumor cells, especially leukemic cells. Changes of many genes may be involved in this process. The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between the EGR1mRNA expression and cell differentiation during TPA-induced K562 cell differentiation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Incubation of human K562 cells in vitro was applied to cultivate K562 cells. The cells were treated in two different ways. K562 cells of experiment group were treated with TPA and those of control group were treated without TPA. Using morphology (Wright's staining and NSE staining) and flow cytometry (FCM), the investigators observed the differentiation characteristics of K562 cells, cell-cycle and the differentiation antigen expressions of CD33 and CD14 on cell membranes. RT-PCR was carried out to assay EGR1 mRNA expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treated with TPA for 7 d, the morphology of K562 cells obviously tended to mature differentiation, like monocytes. The differentiation rate of induced K562 cells was up to 95% in experiment group and 4.5% in control group, respectively. Using SPSS software, the above result showed statistical significance (P < 0.01). Using NSE staining, K562 cells showed positive reaction. Some of them were densely stained. The positive rate was up to 86%. More than half of the positive cells could be inhibited by NaF. The inhibiting rate of NaF was up to 58.72%, showing statistical difference when compared with that of control group. FCM analysis showed that most of K562 cells stimulated by TPA underwent G1/S phase cell-cycle arrest. The composing rate of cell-cycle in TPA-treated group showed that (53.7 +/- 1.25)% of cells were at G0 + G1 phase and (44.3 +/- 1.32)% were at S phase (P < 0.05). The level of CD33 expression on cell membranes was mildly decreased from 0.997% to 0.893% (P > 0.05). However, the level of CD14 expression was significantly increased from 0.049% to 0.387% (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>K562 cells could express EGR1mRNA during TPA-induced differentiation, which suggested that EGR1mRNA might participate in the process of K562 cells differentiating into monocyte/macrophages, and might play an important role in precipitating and maintaining cell differentiation for leukemic cells.</p>