Research progress about traditional Chinese medicine in the intervention of gastric cancer by regulating Th17/Treg balance / 中国药房

Gastric cancer （GC） is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract. T helper cells 17 （Th17） and T regulatory cells （Treg） are differentiated subsets of CD4+T cells. Th17/Treg imbalance has been shown to be closely related to the progression of GC. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can not only improve the survival prognosis of GC patients， but also play a role in enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of postoperative chemotherapy for GC. This paper systematically sorted out the action rules of TCM in the intervention of GC by regulating Th17/Treg balance. The results showed that the TCM compound could regulate the balance of GC Th17/Treg by invigorating the spleen and invigorating Qi， warming Yang， removing blood stasis and detoxifying. The mechanism of regulating Th17/Treg balance in the intervention of GC is mainly to inhibit the excessive differentiation of Th17 and Treg and the overexpression of transcription factors and cytokines， reverse the excessive drift of GC Th17/Treg balance to Th17 or Treg， and thus restore the immune balance of GC Th17/Treg.

Regulation of Immune Balance by Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Cough Variant Asthma： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Cough variant asthma （CVA） is a chronic respiratory disease with cough as its main symptom. The occurrence of CVA is closely related to non-specific airway inflammation， and its pathogenesis involves environmental， genetic， immune， and other factors. In recent years， the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of CVA have attracted the attention of experts and scholars in China and abroad， especially its prominent role in regulating immune balance， relieving cough symptoms in CVA patients， and reducing recurrence. T Helper cells 1 （Th1）， T helper cells 2 （Th2）， T helper cells 17 （Th17）， and regulatory T cells （Treg） are derived from CD4+ T cells. Immune imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg is a new hotspot in the pathogenesis of CVA and a potential key target in the treatment of CVA by TCM. Th cell subsets are in dynamic balance under physiological conditions， maintaining respiratory immune homeostasis in which pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines are balanced. Immature helper T cells （Th0） can be differentiated into Th1， Th2， Th17， Treg， and other cell subsets due to cytokine types in the microenvironment in the stage of CVA maturation. The proliferation of Th2 cells leads to eosinophilic airway inflammation. Excessive differentiation of Th17 cells induces neutrophil airway inflammation. Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells are mutually restricted in number and function， and the immune imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg is easy to aggravate the generation of inflammatory response. Restoring immune balance is particularly important for the airway anti-inflammatory therapy of CVA. In this paper， the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg and the pathogenesis of CVA were systematically expounded. Meanwhile， the latest research on the regulation of immune imbalance by TCM compound， single TCM， and its effective ingredients in the treatment of CVA was reviewed. It provides ideas and references for revealing the scientific connotation of TCM regulating immune balance therapy of CVA， as well as the development of clinical treatment and basic research of CVA.

Clinical efficacy of fire needling combined with cupping therapy on herpes zoster of acute stage and the effect on Th17/Treg cellular immune balance / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between the combined therapy of fire needling and cupping, and western medication on herpes zoster of acute stage, as well as the effects on Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood.@*METHODS@#Eighty patients with herpes zoster of acute stage were randomly divided into a combined therapy (fire needling plus cupping) group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, the pricking and scattering techniques with fire needle were used at ashi points and Jiaji (EX-B 2) corresponding to the affected spinal segments; afterwards, cupping therapy was delivered. The combined treatment was given once daily. In the western medication group, valaciclovir hydrochloride tablet and vitamin B1 tablet were administered orally. The duration of treatment in each group was 10 days. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11 , the score of symptoms and physical signs was observed in the two groups separately. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11, 30, 60, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and skin lesion indexes were observed in the two groups. On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was recorded in the two groups. The levels of Th17 and Treg cells, Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#From day 6 to day 10 during treatment and on day 11, the scores of symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 3, day 6 to day 10 during treatment and day 11, day 30, VAS scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the combined therapy group was lower compared with that in the western medication group (P<0.05). The blister arresting time and scabbing time in the combined therapy group were shorter than those of the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of Th17, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were all lower in comparison with those in the western medication group (P<0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 82.5% (33/40) in the combined therapy group, higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The early application of fire needling combined with cupping therapy can effectively treat herpes zoster of acute stage, relieve pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, which may be related to reducing the levels of Th17 and Treg cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 so that the cellular immune balance is modulated.

Effect of Fugan Huaxian Decoction （扶肝化纤汤） on Th17/Treg Balance and Related Transcription Factors in Hepatic Fibrosis with Healthy Qi Deficiency and Toxin Accumulation Pattern Model Rats / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Fugan Huaxian Decoction （扶肝化纤汤， FHD） against hepatic fibrosis （HF） from the perspective of immunity. MethodsForty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， colchicine group， FHD high-， medium- and low-dose group， with eight rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the disease-syndrome combined model of HF with healthy qi deficiency and toxin accumulation pattern was established during six weeks in the other five groups. After successful modeling， the high-， medium- and low-dose FHD groups were respectively given 37.5， 18.75 and 9.38 g/（kg·d） of FHD granules by gavage， while the colchicine group received 2 mg/ （kg·d） of colchicine tablets by gavage， and the blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） of purified water， all for 3 weeks. The general condition of the rats was recorded. After the treatment， the histopathological morphology of the liver was observed by HE staining， and the levels of interleukin 10 （IL-10） and interleukin 17 （IL-17） in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression of helper T cells 17 （Th17） and regulatory T cells （Treg） in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry， and the Th17/Treg value was calculated. The mRNA expression of retinoic acid-related nuclear orphan receptor γ （RORγt） and fork-head/wing-like helix transcription factor （FoxP3） in liver tissue were detected by qRT-PCR. ResultsCompared to the general condition of rats in the blank group， those in the model group were listless， less active， stretched and pushed， arched and prone， having no resistance to gavage， significantly reduced food intake， loose stools， dirty anus， slow weight gain， dry and dull hair， purple and darkening skin of the limbs with ecchymoses， purple and black spots with varying degrees of the skin of the tail； hepatic fibrosis and hyperplasia of rats in model group were more obvious； serum IL-17， peripheral blood Th17 expression and Th17/Treg value， RORγt mRNA expression in the liver tissue significantly increased in the model group， while expression of IL-10， Treg and FoxP3 mRNA significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to those in the model group， the general condition of the rats and the liver fibrosis of HE stained liver tissue were improved in all the medication groups； the expression of IL-17 and Th17， Th17/Treg， and RORγt mRNA expression significantly decreased， while expression of IL-10， Treg， and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the high- and medium-dose FHD groups and the colchicine group； the expression of IL-17， Th17， and RORγt mRNA decreased， while the expression of IL-10 and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the low-dose FHD group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. And more improvements were found in the FHD high-dose group than FHD medium- and low-dose groups and colchicine group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionFHD can may regulate immune balance and act against fibrosis by regulating the expression of specific transcription factors FoxP3 and RORγt， affecting the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells and Th17/Treg balance， and regulating the secretion of IL-10 and IL-17.

Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Erzhi Tiangui Prescription in Treatment of Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure of Kidney Deficiency Syndrome Based on sPD-1 and Th17/Treg Cytokines / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of Erzhi Tiangui prescription on repeated implantation failure （RIF） of kidney deficiency syndrome. MethodSeventy patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome who underwent natural cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer （FET） in the Reproductive and Genetic Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were enrolled and randomly divided into a treatment group （35 cases） and a control group （35 cases）. Patients in the treatment group took oral Erzhi Tiangui prescription from the third day of each menstrual cycle two months before the FET cycle and continued to take it until the day of transplantation from the third day of the menstrual cycle in the month of transplantation. Those in the control group did not accept traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In addition，10 patients who successfully achieved clinical pregnancy after the first natural cycle FET were screened from the reproductive medical record bank of this hospital and assigned to the normal group. Peripheral blood samples of patients in the three groups on the day of embryo transfer were collected from the specimen bank of the Reproductive and Genetic Center. Serum soluble programmed death molecule-1 （sPD-1），soluble programmed death molecule-ligand 1 （sPD-L1），transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β），interleukin-17 （IL-17）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The changes in kidney deficiency syndrome scores， the final biochemical pregnancy rates， clinical pregnancy rates， and embryo implantation rates of the treatment group and the control group before and after treatment were observed. ResultCompared with the normal group，the model group showed increased serum levels of sPD-1 and IL-17（r=0.347，P<0.05），decreased levels of IL-10 and TGF-β （P<0.01），and non-significant change in sPD-L1 level. Serum sPD-1 was positively correlated with IL-17 （P<0.05） and negatively correlated with IL-10（r=-0.521，P<0.01） and TGF-β（r=-0.457，P<0.01） in RIF patients with kidney deficiency syndrome. After TCM treatment，compared with the control group， the treatment group showed improved TCM syndrome score （P<0.05） and increased clinical pregnancy rate and embryo transfer rate（P<0.05），but there was no statistically significant difference in the biochemical pregnancy rate between the two groups. ConclusionAbnormal expression of sPD-1 in patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome breaks the balance of T helper 17 （Th17）/regulatory T cell （Treg），which is not conducive to embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Erzhi Tiangui prescription，a TCM for tonifying the kidney，can significantly improve the symptoms of kidney deficiency in patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome，reduce the concentrations of sPD-1 and IL-17 in the peripheral serum，increase the levels of TGF-β and IL-10，regulate the peripheral Th17/Treg immune balance，and increase the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate，which has a high clinical value.

Chinese Medicine Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Regulating Th1/Th2 Immune Balance： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is characterized by long treatment course and poor prognosis. The pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated but is mostly related to the non-specific inflammation of the airway and surrounding tissues. T helper 1 （Th1） and T helper 2 （Th2） are generated by CD4+ T cell differentiation， and are in a dynamic equilibrium when the body is in normal state. The balance between pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines regulated by Th1/Th2 is vital for maintaining the immune homeostasis in respiratory tract. Chronic inflammatory state changes the level of inflammatory cells in the body， and there is immune disorder in T lymphocytes in the onset stage of COPD. Th1 cells are predominantly expressed in the stable stage of COPD， while Th2 cells are predominantly expressed in the acute exacerbations of COPD （AECOPD）. Th1/Th2 immune imbalance aggravates the inflammatory reaction， and thus restoring the immune balance between them and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction are critical for the treatment of COPD. At present， there has been no satisfactory treatment plan for COPD. Chinese medicine has a long history of preventing and treating COPD， with remarkable curative effect and few adverse reactions. A large number of animal experiments and clinical studies on Chinese medicine intervention of Th1/Th2 immune balance in COPD have indicated that Th1/Th2 immune balance is an important potential target for treating COPD by Chinese medicine， which can correct chronic inflammatory state by regulating the immune disorder of the body. It has also been found that Th1/Th2 balance plays an important immunoregulatory role in inflammatory response， but little is known about its specific mechanism in the pathogenesis of COPD. On this basis， this paper summarized and analyzed the biological characteristics of Th1/Th2 and their mechanism in the pathogenesis of COPD， as well as the intervention effect of single Chinese medicine or its effective components and Chinese medicine compound on Th1/Th2 immune balance in COPD. It further explored the pathogenesis of COPD and the potential therapeutic targets of Chinese medicine in interfering with Th1/Th2 immune balance in COPD， providing reference for further study on prevention and treatment of COPD with Chinese medicine.

Biological Basis of Five-phase Evolution of Malignant Tumors from Perspective of "Immune Editing" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Immune escape is one of the ten hallmarks of tumors， which plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. Immune escape refers to a process where tumor cells remodel and edit the immune system through the model of immune clearance， immune balance， and immune escape to "transform" the immune cells into immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment， so as to support immune escape. The five-stage evolution is the summary of tumor pathogenesis by professor LI Jie. He believes that the gradual development of tumors follows the core pathogenesis of "deficiency-cold-toxin-obstruction-collapse"， in which "depression" runs through the whole process， and cancer toxin is the key. Based on immune editing， this paper combined phenotypic characteristics of tumor cells with the core pathogenesis of the five-stage evolution of professor LI to reveal the biological basis of malignant tumor five-stage evolution. The results indicate that the prominent change from deficiency to cold is the reduction of immune surveillance and the prominent change from toxin to obstruction is immune escape. The final stage of collapse is the outcome of immune failure. Depression is the booster of tumor immune editing. Therefore， the method of reinforcing the healthy Qi and removing toxins was proposed to regulate the immune editing and cut off the five-stage evolution of tumors. Supplementing Qi and warming Yang can reinforce the healthy Qi and restore immune surveillance. Removing toxins and dredging can reverse toxins and immune escape. The harmonizing method can maintain the dynamic balance of immune cells/immunosuppressive cells. Resolving depression can truncate tumor immune editing. Those methods can provide a certain reference for the treatment based on microscopic syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In future studies， it is necessary to further explore the specific mechanism of the regulation of immune editing with the methods of supplementing Qi and warming Yang， removing toxins and dredging， their combination， and resolving depression， so as to find out specific Chinese medicines and targets and provide more sufficient evidence for the regulation of tumor immune editing by TCM.

LncRNA-NEF improves immune imbalance and PD-1/PD-1L-mediated Treg-Th17 cell balance in postmenopausal osteoporosis mice by miR-21 adsorption / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEF on T cell immune function in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) mice.Methods:Female Balb/c mice were used to construct OVX model ( n=46) and sham control group ( n=16) . Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-SCs) from these two groups of mice were cultured. NEF recombinant expression vector (pIRSE2-NEF) was constructed and transfected into BMSCs. RT-qPCR was used to detect NEF and miR-21 levels in BMSCs cells in sham group, OVX group, and pIRSE2-NEF group. Luciferase gene report experiment was used to verify the binding effect of NEF and miR-21. The remaining 40 OVX mice were divided into 4 groups, including OVX group ( n=10) , pIRSE2-NEF injection group (pIRSE2-NEF group, n=10) , pIRSE2-NEF combined with PD-1 inhibitor group (pIRSE2-NEF+ PD-L1-IN-1 group, n=10) , and pIRSE2-NEF combined with miR-21 mimic (mimic) group (pIRSE2-NEF+ mimic group, n=10) . The remaining 10 mice in sham group were used as the control group. ELI-SA was used to detect the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-13 and PD-1/PD-1L in peripheral blood. Flow cytometry was used to detect the shift of serum Treg-Th17 cell subsets. Results:Compared with the Sham group (1.01±0.04, 1.00±0.03) , the expression of NEF in BMSCs of OVX group was down-regulated (0.23±0.01) , and miR-21 was up-regulated (2.96±0.05) ( P<0.05) . Compared with OVX group (1.23±0.15, 5.20±0.31) , NEF in BMSCs cells of Pirse2-nef group was significantly up-regulated (6.83±0.35) ( P<0.05) , while miR-21 was down-regulated (0.29±0.11) ( P<0.05) .NEF has a direct binding base site with miR-21.The levels of IFN-γ (3.25±0.21) , IL-2 (2.44±0.06) and Th17/Treg ratio (3.18±0.65) in peripheral blood of mice in OVX group were significantly higher than those in Sham group (1.03±0.02, 1.00±0.01, 0.86±0.09) (all P<0.05) . The levels of IL-4 (0.45±0.02) , IL-13 (0.43±0.07) , PD-1 (0.24±0.03) and PD-1L (0.51±0.06) were significantly lower than those of Sham group (1.00±0.04, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.00) ( P<0.05) ; Compared with OVX, IFN-γ (2.02±0.06) , IL-2 (0.88±0.01) and Th17/Treg ratio (1.43±0.22) in Pirse2-nef group were decreased. The levels of IL-4 (0.87±0.03) , IL-13 (0.84±0.07) , PD-1 (0.79±0.06) and PD-1L (0.77±0.06) were increased (all P<0.05) ; Compared with Pirse2-nef group, IFN-γ (2.89±0.06) , IL-2 (2.07±0.07) and Th17/Treg ratio (2.39±0.38) were increased in Pirse2-nef+ PD-L1-in-1 group. The levels of IL-4 (0.68±0.03) , IL-13 (0.76±0.08) , PD-1 (0.52±0.02) and PD-1L (0.83±0.04) were decreased (all P<0.05) . Moreover, the pIRSE2-NEF+ mimic group had the same adjustment effect as the pIRSE2-NEF+ PD-L1-IN-1 group. Conclusion:lncRNA-NEF improves immune imbalance and PD-1/PD-1L-mediated Treg-Th17 cell balance in postmenopausal osteoporosis mice by sponging miR-21.

Combination Treatment with in Situ Tumor Vaccination Therapy and Nutritional Intervention Utilizing Lentinula Edodes Mycelia Extract for Patient with Lingual Cancer: A Case Report / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

In this report, we introduce the patient who show good prognosis after receiving combination therapy with in situ tumor vaccination therapy and nutritional intervention utilizing Lentinula Edodes Mycelia extract. In addition to the disease status, immune condition was also improved by combination therapy.

Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway plays negative regulatory role in early inflammatory and immune responses in septic rats / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) in neuro-regulation of inflammatory and immune response in the early stage of sepsis.@*METHODS@#Sixty-four SD rats were randomly divided into control Group (=8) with normal feeding without any treatment; sham operation group (=8) with laparotomy but without cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), followed by intraperitoneal injection 50 mg/kg piperacillin 3 times a day for 3 consecutive days; and sepsis group (=48) with CLP-induced sepsis. The rat models of sepsis were randomized into model groups (=16) with intraperitoneal injection of piperacillin (50 mg/kg) and normal saline (1 mL/100 g) for 3 times a day for 3 days; GTS-21 group (=16) with additional intraperitoneal injection of 4 mg/kg GTS-21 (once a day for 3 days); and methyllycaconitine (MLA) group (=16) with intraperitoneal injection of MLA (4.8 mg/kg) in addition to piperacillin (once a day for 3 days). Murine Sepsis Score (MSS) of the rats and short-range HRV analysis were recorded. Three days later, the rats were sacrificed and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-10, IL-6, HMGB1, and sCD14 were measured with ELISA. The percentages of CD4CD25 Treg and TH17 lymphocytes and their ratios were measured using flow cytometry.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control rats, the septic rats had significantly increased MSS scores and lowered HRV indexes (SDNN, RMSSD, HF, SD1, and SD2; < 0.05); treatment with GTS-21 significantly decreased while MLA increased MSS scores ( < 0.05), but neither of them obviously affected HRV of the rats. Serum levels TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-10, IL-6, HMGB1, and sCD14 and the percentages of CD4CD25 Treg and TH17-positive lymphocytes were significantly higher and Treg/TH17 ratio was significantly lower in the septic rats compared with those in the control group ( < 0.05); treatment with GTS-21 significantly decreased the levels of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6, HMGB1, and sCD14 and TH17 lymphocyte percentage ( < 0.05), whereas MLA treatment significantly increased serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-10, IL-6, HMGB1, and sCD14 and the percentages of CD4 CD25 Treg and TH17-positive lymphocytes and decreased Treg/TH17 ratio in the septic rats ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#CAP plays negative regulatory role in early inflammatory and immune response to sepsis, and some of the HRV indicators can well reflect the regulatory effect of CAP on inflammation and immunity in the septic rats.

Impacts of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) on the improvements in the quality of life in patients with advanced malignant tumor / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the impacts of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) on the improvements in the quality of life in the patients with advanced malignant tumor.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with advanced malignant tumor were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, the routine symptomatic scheme was adopted. In the observation group, on the base of the routine treatment, moxibustion was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), once a day. The observation period was 12 days. The percentages of , and in T lymphocyte subset, the ratio of / , the value of hemoglobin, Karnofsky score (KPS) and the main symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In comparison before and after treatment in the two groups as well as between the two groups, the differences were not significant in the contents of , and , hemoglobin and the ratio of / (all >0.05). In the observation group, KPS after treatment was increased as compared with the score before treatment (0.05). In the observation group, the improvements in lassitude, short breath, poor appetite, dizziness and vertigo, complexion, palpitation, soreness and weakness of the lumber region and knee joint as well as the total score were better than the control group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) effectively regulates the immune balance and relieves the clinical symptoms in the patients with advanced malignant tumor.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mycoplasm load and the immune response of Th1/Th2 cells in children withMycoplas-ma pneumoniae pneumonia / 临床儿科杂志

ObjectiveTo understand the relationship between mycoplasm load in bronchoalveolar lavage lfuid (BALF) with the status of Th1/Th2 immune response in children withMycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).MethodsThe levels of IL-4, IFN, IL-8 , TNF-α in BLAF and total IgE, ECP in serum from 90 children with MPP were measured by ELISA.MP DNA in BALF was detected quantitatively by lfuorescent real-time PCR. Children with MPP (n=90) were divided into two groups of low MP-DNA load (n=24) and high MP-DNA load (n=26) according to the copies of MP DNA in BALF. The cytokines in BALF, and total IgE and ECP in serum were compared between the two groups. The relationship between the levels of cytokines in BLAF and the copies was evaluated.ResultsThe levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/IFN ratio in BALF from the high DNA-load group were signiifcantly higher than that of the low group (t=4.280, 2.076, allP<0.05). The level of IL-4 was signiifcantly correlated with the copies of MP-DNA in BALF from children with MPP (r=0.509,P<0.05). The percentage of total IgE and ECP positive result in serum from the high DNA-load group is higher than that of the low group. (χ2=24.638, 6.392,allP<0.05).Conclusion Infection with high-load MP in children may cause the imbalance of Th1/Th2. And the Th2 cytokines response seems predomi-nant.

Role of Nucleotide-binding and Oligomerization Domain 2 Protein (NOD2) in the Development of Atherosclerosis

NOD2 (nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain 2) was initially reported as a susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease, with several studies focused on elucidating its molecular mechanism in the progression of Crohn's disease. We now know that NOD2 is an intracellular bacterial sensing receptor, and that MDP-mediated NOD2 activation drives inflammatory signaling. Various mutations in NOD2 have been reported, with NOD2 loss of function being associated with the development of Crohn's disease and other autoimmune diseases. These results suggest that NOD2 not only has an immune stimulatory function, but also an immune regulatory function. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall; its pathologic progression is highly dependent on the immune balance. This immune balance is regulated by infiltrating monocytes and macrophages, both of which express NOD2. These findings indicate a potential role of NOD2 in atherosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to outline the known roles of NOD2 signaling in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Effects of 2 Gy γ-irradiation on the number of regulatory T cells and Thl7 cells and immune balance in mice / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To observe the effects of 2 Gy γ-ray irradiation on regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 cells and immune balance of mice.Methods A total of fifty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into two groups,the irradiated group exposed to 2 Gy of whole body γ-ray irradiation,and the control group sham-irradiated.At 1,3,7,14 and 28 d after radiation,changes of peripheral haemogram were detected respectively and Tregs in peripheral blood,thymus and spleen and Th17 cells in spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with control group,the number of peripheral blood white cells (WBC) and lymphocyte in irradiated group reduced significantly post-irradiation (t =8.89-33.54,P ＜ 0.05),while the cell number of peripheral CD4 + CD25 + Tregs post-irradiation rose but not significantly.Thymic Treg cells increased 1 and 3 d post-irradiation(t =-6.45,-10.59,P ＜0.05),but reduced 28 d post-irradiation (t =5.34,P ＜ 0.05).Splenic Treg cells ascended obviously from 1 to 14 d post-irradiation (t =-6.82-3.89,P ＜ 0.05).After irradiation splenic Th17 cells increased at 1 d,and reached the maximal level at 3 d (t =-2.42,P ＜ 0.05),more obviously than splenic Treg cells.The reduction of Treg/Th17 ratio from 1 to 14 d post-irradiation disturbed Treg/Th17 balance and made it drift to the direction of Th17 (t =4.02-8.04,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Treg/Th17 imbalance plays an important role in immune injury induced by irradiation.

Effect of propofol on stress response and immune balance in patients with severe trauma hemorrhage after fluid resuscitation / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To explore the stress response and immune balance in patients with severe trauma hemorrhage after fluid resuscitation and to clarify the clinical effect of Propofol administered with continuous intravenous infusion pump on it.Methods With prospective,randomized and control analysis,54 patients treated with fluid resuscitation following severe trauma hemorrhage admitted from October 1st,2008 to December 1st,2009 were studied.Another 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group (C group). Patients were randomly divided into:conventional treatment group (R group,n =27 ) and conventional therapy combined with propofol treatment ( P group,n =27) as per gender,age,ISS score,estimated blood loss four factors and the principle ofminimum distribution imbalance index.HR,MAP,the levels of stress hormones [ norepinephrine (NE),cortisol (Cor) ],immune function ( T lymphocyte subsets Th1/Th2) and other biomarkers were observed.Mortality within 28 d between R group and P group was compared.ANOVA was used for the comparison of biomarkers,and independent samples t test was employed to compare variables between the two groups. Results Plasma cortisol (Cor),norepinephrine (NE),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),creatinine ( Cr),blood glucose,and Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in patients were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers of group C (P ＜0.01 ),and Th1/Th2 was significantly lower than those in healthy volunteers of C group (P =0.001 ).The ALT (48 h),Glu (6 h),NE (24 h and 48 h) and Cor (6 h and 24 h) of patients in P group were lower than those in R group ( P ＜0.05 ),and Th1 and Th2 were lower than those in R group at different intervals ( Th1:24h P =0.028,48 hP=0.002 ; Th2:6 h P=0.033,24 h P=0.007,48 h P=0.009),and Th1/Th2 ratio (48 h) was significantly higher in P group than that in R group (P =0.028),but there was no significant difference in mortality within 28d between the two groups. Conclusions Strong stress response,immune suppression and organ dysfunction can occur in the early stages of severe trauma hemorrhage after fluid resuscitation.Propofol can inhibit excessive stress response,modulate the immune balance and protect the important organs in those exsanguination patients from severe trauma.

The effect of laparoscopy-assisted rectal cancer surgery on the level of Th1/Th2 balance and change of CD4+CD45R cell / 中国综合临床

Objective To explore the difference of the level of Th1/Th2 balance and change of CD4+ CD45R cell after treated by laparoseopy-assisted rectal cancer surgery and conventional open rectal cancer surgery, so to compare the effect of the two procedures on immunity function of the patients. Methods CD4+ IFN-γ+ T cell (Thl cell), CD4+ IL-4 + T cell( Th2 cell)and the ratio of Th1/Th2 were detected by flow cytometery ; The levels of IFN-γand IL-4 were measured by ELISA. The changes of CD4 + CD45RA+ T cell and CD4+ CD45RO+ T cell were detected in the different procedures so that the effect of the two procedures on eytoimmunity and immune balance were analyzed. Results Compared with baseline levels, the level of Th1 cells was decreased [ (4.51±1.52 ) %, (7.26 ±2.59) % vs. ( 12.06 ±1.82 ) % ] (P < 0.05 ) ; The level of Th2 cells was increased [ (6.70 ± 2.41 ) %, (6.70 ± 2.41 ) % vs. (4.47 ± 1.90) % ] ( P < 0.05 ) ; The level of IFN-γ was decreased [ (57.15± 23.64) ng/L, (72.70 ± 27. 31 ) ng/L vs. ( 123.47 ± 32. 52) ng/L ] ( P < 0. 01 ) ; The level of IL-4 was increased [(55.55±7.29)ng/L,(57.56 ±7.13)ng/L vs. [(41.87±5.83)ng/L] (P<0.05) on 2nd and 7th day after conventional open reeatal cancer surgery; The level of Thl, Th2, IFN-γ and IL-4 in the laparoscopy-assisted rectal cancer surgery was not different ( P > 0.05 ). At 7 day postoperatively, the level of the CD4+ CD45 RA+ T cells was in-creased (35.11 ±7.82) and the CD4+ CD45RO+T cells was decreased(61.21±9.13) compared with surgery be-fore(31.11±6.72) and (68.11 ±11.42) respectively (P< 0.05). Conclusions The laparoscopy-assisted rec-tal cancer surgery has less influence on immune balance, thus protect systemic cell immunity.