ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of type ⅡNKT cells activated by sulfatide on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.Methods:Thirty-two BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups:normal control group ( n=8 ) , asthma group (n=8),sulfatide treatment group (n=8) and adoptive transfer group (n=8).The murine model of asthma was established by sensitization with intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin ( OVA) and intranasal challenge in all animals except for the normal control group where PBS was used instead.Intraperitoneal injection of sulfatide in a sulfatide treatment group, adoptive transfer of sulfatide-activated typeⅡNKT cells in adoptive transfer group and PBS in asthma group were carried out 1 hour before the first challenge.PBS was used for intraperitoneal administration in the normal control group.Lung histology and goblet cell hyperplasia were analyzed by HE or PAS staining.Differential cell count in bronchial alveolar lavage ( BALF) was measured by May-Gruenwald Giemsa;levels of OVA-specific IgE in serum and L-4,IL-5 in BALF were measured by ELISA.The percentages of lung type Ⅱ NKT cells,IL-4+and IFN-γ+typeⅡNKT cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results:Inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue and goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway were decreased in sulfatide treatment group and adoptive transfer group.Percentages of eosinophil in BALF,level of OVA-specific IgE in serum,and levels of IL-4,IL-5 in BALF in sulfatide treatment group and adoptive transfer group were significantly lower than those in asthma group (all P<0.05).The percentages of lung IL-4+and IFN-γ+typeⅡNKT cells in sulfatide treatment group was significantly higher than those in asthma group ( P<0.01 ).Conclusion: Type Ⅱ NKT cells activated by sulfatide may inhibit airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects of theophylline plus salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination product (SFC) on clinical control,lung function and airway inflammation in asthmatics.Methods A total of 146 asthmatics received 200 mg theophylline plus 50/250 μg SFC twice daily for 24 weeks.The level of asthma control was assessed by the asthma control test.Testing of lung function and inflammatory markers in induced sputum were performed.And 142 asthmatics received 50/250 μg SFC twice daily for 24 weeks as control.Results Asthma was completely controlled in 61 and 59 in the theophylline plus SFC and SFC groups respectively after a 24-week treatment period (P ＞ 0.05).Theophylline plus SFC improved the FEF25％ 75％ value,indicating small airway function,to a greater extent than SFC [(66.7 ± 18.2) ％ & (56.6 ± 17.4) ％,P ＜ 0.01].Percentage of eosinophil and concentration of eosinophil cationic protein in induced sputum were significantly lower in the theophylline plus SFC group than those in the SFC group [(4.1 ±2.3)％ vs.(6.2±2.7)％ & (63.9±39.4) vs.(90.3 ±46.2) μg/Lrespeetively] (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The therapy of theophylline plus SFC may provide greater improvements in small airway function and airway inflammation.