Therapeutic Effects of Resiniferatoxin Related with Immunological Responses for Intestinal Inflammation in Trichinellosis

The immune response against Trichinella spiralis at the intestinal level depends on the CD4⁺ T cells, which can both suppress or promote the inflammatory response through the synthesis of diverse cytokines. During the intestinal phase, the immune response is mixed (Th1/Th2) with the initial predominance of the Th1 response and the subsequent domination of Th2 response, which favor the development of intestinal pathology. In this context, the glucocorticoids (GC) are the pharmacotherapy for the intestinal inflammatory response in trichinellosis. However, its therapeutic use is limited, since studies have shown that treatment with GC suppresses the host immune system, favoring T. spiralis infection. In the search for novel pharmacological strategies that inhibit the Th1 immune response (proinflammatory) and assist the host against T. spiralis infection, recent studies showed that resiniferatoxin (RTX) had anti-inflammatory activity, which decreased the serum levels of IL-12, INF-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, NO, and PGE₂, as well the number of eosinophils in the blood, associated with decreased intestinal pathology and muscle parasite burden. These researches demonstrate that RTX is capable to inhibit the production of Th1 cytokines, contributing to the defense against T. spiralis infection, which places it as a new potential drug modulator of the immune response.

Effects of Compound Leonurus artemisia Ointment Combined with Drospirenone and Ethinylestradiol Tablets on Serum Progesterone and Th1/Th2 Cytokine after Medical Abortion / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Compound Leonurus artemisia ointment combined with Drospirenone and ethinylestradiol tablets on serum progesterone and T helper (Th) 1/Th2 cytokine after medical abortion.METHODS:A total of 228 patients underwent medical abortion selected from obstetrical outpatient of our hospital during our hospital during Mar.2013 to Jul.2015 as research object were divided into control group (109 cases) and observation group (119 cases) according to random number table.Control group was given Cefuroxime axetil tablets 0.25 g,po,bid,for consecutive 6 d for anti-infective treatment+ Drospirenone and ethinylestradiol tablets one tablet,po,qd,21 d as a treatment course,8 d later receiving second course,3 courses in total after fetal sac exclusion.Observation group was additionally given Compound L.artemisia ointment 10 g,po,bid,7 d as a treatment course,2 courses in total on the basis of control group.The levels of serum progesterone and Th1 (TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-2)/Th2 cytokine (IL-4,IL-6,IL-10) were observed in 2 groups,and the occurrence of ADR was recorded.RESULTS:Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in serum progesterone or Th1/Th2 cytokine levels between 2 groups (P＞0.05).After treatment,serum progesterone,TNF-α,IL-2 and IL-6 levels of 2 groups were decreased significantly,and above indexes of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group.The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in 2 groups were increased significantly,and above indexes of observation group were significantly higher than control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).After treatment,IFN-γ levels of 2 groups were decreased significantly,but there was no statistical significance between 2 groups (P＞0.05).No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups during treatment.CONCLUSIONS:Compound L.artemisia ointment combined with Drospirenone and ethinylestradiol tablets can regulate immune function of patients after medical abortion,and promote dynamic balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines with good safety.

The Modulation of IL-12 by Phosphodiesterase IV Inhibitor and Subsequent Changes of Th-1, Th-2 Cytokines in Human Endometrial Tissue / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To assess the capability of phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor (rolipram) to suppress IL-12 in human decidua and the subsequent changes of Th-2 cytokine (IL-10) and Th-1 cytokine (TNF-alpha). METHODS: Decidual tissues of 10 first-trimester pregnant women and 10 first-trimester pregnant women diagnosed as missed abortion were collected by dilatation and currettage. The decidual tissues were treated with rolipram for 6 hours. Protein and mRNA expression in the tissues were analysed by western blotting, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Rolipram, in the concentration above 1 microgram/ml, could decrease the expression of IL-12p35 (control: 46.37+/-7.38, rolipram: 24.34+/-8.46) and IL-12p40 mRNA (control: 31.7+/-5.8, rolipram: 14.9+/-4.6) and protein (control: 52.4+/-8.9, rolipram: 40.9+/-12.1). However, the expression of IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA and protein did not changed by rolipram. There was no difference in the cytokine expression pattern between the decidual tissues of normal pregnancy and missed abortion. CONCLUSION: Rolipram, the phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor, could induce the decrease of IL-12 in human decidua. In human decidual tissue, unlike other human tissues, the decrease of IL-12 by rolipram did not modulate other Th-1/Th-2 cytokines. Inability of IL-12 to modulate other Th-1/Th-2 cytokines might be related with unique cytokine network in human decidua rather than its small extent of decrease.

Th1/Th2 Cytokine Production in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the immunoregulatory mechanism of Th1/Th2 cells in patients with the Hepatitis C virus infection, which is characterized by persistence and chronic progression, Th1 cytokine (IFN-, IL-12, IL-2) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4) responses were investigated. METHODS: Th1 cytokine (IFN-, IL-12, and IL-2) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4) for serum levels, spontaneous production of peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and PHA-stimulated production of PBMC were estimated by the ELISA method in 19 patients with chronic Hepatitis C (CH), 12 with cirrhosis of the liver (LC) and 12 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The IFN-gamma serum levels increased significantly in the CH and LC compared with the healthy controls (P<0.05). The spontaneous IFN-gamma production of PBMC increased significantly in patients with CH and LC compared with the healthy controls (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). The PHA stimulated IFN-gamma production of PBMC decreased significantly in chronic liver disease (CLD) compared with the healthy controls according to production ability. The IL-12 for serum and spontaneous IL-12 production of PBMC fell under the detectable level. PHA-stimulated IL-12 production decreased significantly in the CH compared with the healthy controls (P<0.01). The IFN-gamma showed positive correlations with the lymphocyte counts and IL-12 levels in CLD. CONCLUSIONS: Although the Th1 immune response for serum and spontaneous production in CH and LC was normal or increased, the Th1 immune response for PHA stimulation decreased or showed a low-tendency. It is suggested that the cytokine imbalance in the CLD may contribute to the persistence of HCV infection; however, it was not correlated with chronic progression.

Cytokines in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections / 대한임상병리학회지

The cytokine patterns secreted by T cells at the site of viral replication may influence the final outcome of HBV and HCV infection. The different cytokine profiles of T cells within the liver in chronic HBV (Th0/Th2 cytokine) and HCV (Th1 cytokine) infections illustrate a different behavior of the local immune response in these two infections. The predominance of Th1-type cytokine responses has been reported to play an important role in viral clearance of patients with both acute and chronic hepatitis B. In contrast, a combined Th1-and Th2-like responses were found in chronic hepatitis C, exhibiting a pattern like that of acute hepatitis C with chronic evolution. It suggests that different patterns of cytokine expressions between HBV and HCV infection involve the difference in chronicity in each infection.