A low abundance of Bifidobacterium but not Lactobacillius in the feces of Chinese children with wheezing diseases.

BACKGROUND: The intestinal microbiota is linked with allergic reaction diseases. However, the difference in the fecal microbiota composition between sensitized wheezy and nonsensitized subjects in Chinese children remains unknown. The aim of this study was to quantitate the amounts of fecal microbiota in wheezy children, and to explore the correlation between fecal microbiota and serum Th1/Th2/Th17-type cytokines and total IgE in these patients. METHODS: The amounts of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were determined using a 16S-RNA real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in wheezy children (cases) and nonwheezy controls. Serum Th1/Th2/Th17-type cytokines levels were measured using flow a cytometric bead array assay. In addition, the concentrations of total serum IgE was also determined. RESULTS: In comparison with that in the healthy control (HC), significantly lower abundance of Bifidobacterium and lower levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α), but higher levels of Th2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) and Th17-type (IL-17A) cytokine were detected in children with bronchiolitis and asthma. But there was no significant difference in the amounts of Lactobacillus. Interestingly, the amounts of fecal Bifidobacterium were correlated positively with serum Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, and correlated negatively with serum Th17 cytokines IL-17A, Th2 cytokines IL-4 and serum total IgE in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that lower quantity of Bifidobacterium, but not Lactobacillus, may be correlated with asthma and bronchiolitis in chinese children. These results also may provide guidance in choosing the proper probiotics for wheezing children.

Relationship of Tim-1 gene polymorphisms and disease / 国际儿科学杂志

As an important member of Tim gene family,T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein (Tim) - 1 mainly expressed in T cell surface and adjust T cells immune response.Recent studies have found that Tim-1 gene polymorphisms may be linked with allergic diseases,autoimmune diseases and infection diseases.The review of relationship between Tim-1 polymorphism and diseases will have profound and long-term impact to expound the pathogenesis,providing new method to prevent and treat diseases.