Expression of CCL17 in Serum of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Clinical Significance / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the expression levels of serum CCL17 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA),so as to explore its clinical sig?nificance. Methods The expression of serum CCL17 was measured by ELISA in 40 RA patients and 20 normal individuals. The correlation of se?rum levels of CCL17 with clinical active index was analyzed. Results The serum level of CCL17 in RA patients was significantly higher than those in normal controls(P<0.05). Serum CCL17 level in patient with advanced disease(DAS28≥5.1)was higher than those in medium disease activity group(3.2≤DAS28<5.1)(P<0.05). The serum level of CCL17 in RA was obviously correlated with CRP,anti?CCP,the count of PLT(P<0.05). Conclusion High level of CCL17 expression was found in serum of RA patients. Our results also proved that serum level of CCL17 has certain cor?relation with disease activity index in RA patients,which indicates CCL17 may be involved in the process of the pathogenesis and progression of RA.

The Leaves of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold Inhibit Atopic Dermatitis-Like Response on Mite Allergen-Treated Nc/Nga Mice

Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold. (B. kazinoki) has long been used in the manufacture of paper in Asian countries. Although B. kazinoki leaves (BK) have been employed in dermatological therapy, use of BK has not been tested in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Using Nc/Nga mice, which are genetically predisposed to develop AD-like skin lesions, we confirmed the efficacy of BK in AD treatment. BK extract was applied topically to Dermatophagoides farinae-induced AD-like lesions in Nc/Nga mice, and the effects were assessed both clinically and by measuring skin thickness on the back and ears. We measured the effects of BK extract on plasma levels of IgE and IL-4. We also measured the ability of BK extract to inhibit the secretion of hTARC in HaCaT cells after stimulation by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. We found that BK extract significantly reduced ear and dorsal skin thickness and the clinical signs of AD, as well as significantly down-regulating the plasma levels of IgE and IL-4 (p<0.01 for each comparison). Moreover, 500 mug/mL of BK extract inhibited hTARC secretion in HaCaT cells by activated TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma by about 87%. These findings suggest that topical application of BK extract has excellent potential in the treatment of AD.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Quercetagetin, an Active Component of Immature Citrus unshiu, in HaCaT Human Keratinocytes

Citrus fruit contain various flavonoids that have multiple biological activities. However, the content of these flavonoids are changed during maturation and immature Citrus is known to contain larger amounts than mature. Chemokines are significant mediators for cell migration, while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) are well known as the typical inflammatory chemokines in atopic dermatitis (AD), a pruritic and chronic inflammatory skin disease. We reported recently that the EtOH extract of immature Citrus unshiu inhibits TARC and MDC production. Therefore, we investigated the activity of flavonoids contained in immature Citrus on TARC and MDC levels. As a result, among the various flavonoids, quercetagetin has stronger inhibitory effects on the protein and mRNA expression of TARC and MDC than other flavonoids. Quercetagetin particularly has better activity on TARC and MDC level than quercetin. In HPLC analysis, the standard peak of quercetagetin matches the peaks of extract of immature C. unshiu. This suggests that quercetagetin is an anti-inflammatory component in immature C. unshiu.

Intervention effect of montelukast on thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in children with asthma / 中国基层医药

Objective To study the intervention effect of montelukast on thymus and activation-regulated chemokine(TARC) in the children with asthma.Methods 100 children with asthma were randomly divided into montelukast (LTRA) group ( n = 50) and budesonide (BUD) group ( n = 50), the LTRA group was treated with montelukast, the BUD group was treated with budesonide,50 children without asthma as control group were inhaled NS.Before and after 7 days treatment,the asthma symptoms, FEV1,concentration of TARC were measured.Results Before treatment,the concentration of TARC in asthma group was significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05 ).After treatment, the concentration of TARC in BUD group and LTRA group was significandy decreased( P < 0.05 ), but the difference between these two groups was not significantl( P > 0.05 ), the concentration of TARC in control group was not significantly decreased(P > 0.05 ) ;the symptoms were better after treatment in BUD group and LTRA group,(P <0,05) ,and the pulmonary function was significantly improved after treatment in BUD group and LTRA group ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusion TARC was the important factor in children asthma.Montelukast could block the production of TARC ,and was more convenient and safe for children asthma.

Expression of TARC in Nasal Epithelial Cells by IL-4/IL-13 and TNF-alpha in Allergic Rhinitis

BACKGROUND: Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine (TARC) is a highly specific ligand for CCR4 expressed in Th2 lymphocytes. Local production of TARC may play an important role in the induction and maintenance of allergic inflammation with the infiltration of Th2 lymphocytes. However, the cellular sources of TARC among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated that nasal epithelial cells from AR could produce TARC and that they could produce TARC differently by various stimulation of cytokines. METHODS: Inferior turbinate mucosal tissues were collected from six patients with AR sensitized to house dust mite. Nasal epithelial cells were isolated, cultured and stimulated with IL-4, IL-13 or TNF-a alone or in combination. The level of TARC in the supernatant was measured by ELISA and mRNA expression of that in the cells by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The level of TARC from cultured nasal epithelial cells (CNEC) among allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that in the control group. IL-4 or IL-13 or TNF-a alone did not upregulate TARC production from CNEC. However, Th2 cytokines in combination with TNF-a increased the production of TARC in CNEC. CONCLUSION: IL-4, IL-13 and TNF-a could upregulate TARC production from nasal epithelial cells in allergic rhinitis and contribute to the infiltration of Th2 cells to the tissue during allergic inflammation.

Serum Levels of Type 2 Chemokines in Lepromatous Leprosy Patients

BACKGROUND: The type 2 deviated immunological state is predominant in lepromatous leprosy. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immune-complex mediated reaction that typically occurs in lepromatous leprosy. To date, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, IL-10, IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were reported to be higher in lepromatous leprosy. TNF-alpha is also known to be higher in ENL, which is reduced after thalidomide treatment. However the serum type 2 chemokine levels in lepromatous leprosy patients have not been reported. METHODS: The serum levels of the type 2 chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and eotaxin together with IL-12 and IL-10 in the sera from leprosy patients were detected using an enzyme-linked solvent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: The Serum TARC, MDC, eotaxin, IL-10 and IL-12 levels in lepromatous leprosy patients were not significantly different from the normal control levels. The serum levels were not significantly different between the paucibacillary group and multibacillary group. The serum TARC or MDC levels in the ENL patients were more reduced after a treatment containing thalidomide. CONCLUSION: The type 2 chemokines are not related to the severity of lepromatous leprosy. The larger reducing effect of the TARC or MDC levels in ENL patients by a treatment containing thalidomide suggests the potential role of these chemokines in the development of ENL and the therapeutic mechanism of thalidomide.