Explore the vast range of titles available.

目的 检测特应性皮炎（AD）患者外周血嗜酸性粒细胞富集群中P物质（SP）和NK1受体（NK1R）的表达，并分析其在AD中的可能作用。方法 采集健康对照组（HC）及AD患者的外周静脉血，用尘螨、蒿草花粉和梧桐花粉过敏原粗提液刺激1h后，流式细胞术检测嗜酸性粒细胞富集群中SP和NK1R的表达。结果 与HC组比较，静息状态下AD患者嗜酸性粒细胞富集群中NK1R＋细胞的比例升高了41%（P=0.001），SP＋细胞的比例减少了1.17倍（P〈0.001），SP＋细胞的MFI降低了55%（P〈0.001）。过敏原对HC和AD患者嗜酸性粒细胞富集群中SP及NK1R表达的影响无统计学差异。结论 AD患者嗜酸性粒细胞富集群中NK1R表达上调，提示嗜酸性粒细胞表面的NK1R可能在特应性皮炎中起重要作用；NK1R拮抗剂或阻断剂可能是治疗AD的有效制剂。

目的 检测不同过敏原刺激下过敏性鼻炎合并哮喘（allergic rhinitis complicated with asthma, AR＋AS）患者嗜酸性粒细胞群中P物质（substance P, SP）和NK1受体（neurokinin 1 receptor, NK1R）的表达水平，并阐述其在疾病发生过程中的作用。方法 募集14例健康人及19例急性期入院的AR＋AS患者，所有志愿者进行皮肤点刺试验并收集外周血，用蒿草花粉、尘螨和梧桐花粉3种过敏原粗提液刺激后流式细胞术检测外周血嗜酸性粒细胞群中SP和NK1R的表达水平，并用SPSS软件进行数据分析。结果 19例AR＋AS患者外周血嗜酸性粒细胞中，SP＋细胞的比例与正常人相比升高了1.5倍（Z=－2.041，P=0.041），NK1R＋细胞的比例和平均荧光强度分别上调了26.4%（Z=－3.207，P=0.001）和85.9%（Z=－4.774，P〈0.001）。此外，质量浓度为0.1μg/mL的蒿草花粉粗提液刺激患者外周血后，SP＋细胞的比例上调约68.1%（Z=－2.637，P=0.008）。而健康人嗜酸性粒细胞群中SP和NK1R经不同种类和浓度过敏原刺激后其表达水平无统计学差异。结论 嗜酸性粒细胞源SP和NK1R可能在AR＋AS的发生过程中起重要作用，而SP和NK1R可能是治疗AR＋AS的新靶点。

朗格汉斯细胞组织细胞增生症（LCH）由朗格汉斯细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、巨噬细胞、浆细胞和多核细胞组成。朗格汉斯细胞胞核稍偏位,呈卵圆形、肾形或因核沟而凹陷,核仁不明显,呈＂咖啡豆＂样（图1）;胞质丰富,呈淡染或嗜酸性,可见丰富的胶原沉积．

CD4 T helper （Th） cells play critical roles in adaptive immune responses. They recruit and activate other immune cells including B cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. Based on their functions, their pattern of cytokine secretion and their expression of specific transcription factors, Th cells, differentiated from naive CD4 T cells, are classified into four major lineages, Thl, Th2, Th17 and T regulatory （Treg） cells, although other Th lineages may exist. Subsets of the same lineage may express different effector cytokines, reside at different locations or give rise to cells with different fates, whereas cells from different lineages may secrete common cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-9 and IL-10, resulting in massive heterogeneity of the Th cell population. In addition, the pattern of cytokine secretion may switch from that of one lineage toward another under certain circumstances, suggesting that Th cells are plastic. Tregs are also more heterogeneous and plastic than were originally thought. In this review, we summarize recent reports on heterogeneity and plasticity of Th cells, and discuss potential mechanisms and implications of such features that Th cells display.

Background： Atopic dermatitis （AD） is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent dermatitis with profound itching. Most patients have personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. Several criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD. Although the clinical features of childhood AD have been widely studied, there has been less large-scale study on adult/adolescent AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adult/adolescent patients with chronic symmetrical eczemaJAD and to propose Chinese diagnostic criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Methods： A hospital-based study was performed. Forty-two dermatological centers participated in this study. Adult and adolescent patients （12 years and over） with chronic symmetrical eczema or AD were included in this study. Questionnaires were completed by both patients and-investigators. The valid questionnaires were analyzed using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS 17.0 software. Results： A total of 2662 valid questionnaires were collected （1369 male and 1293 female）. Of all 2662 patients, 2062 （77.5%） patients had the disease after 12 years old, while only 600 （22.5%） patients had the disease before 12 years old, suggesting late-onset eczema/AD is common. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine （80.4%） patients had the disease for more than 6 months. One thousand one hundred and forty-four （43.0%） patients had a personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. One thousand five hundred and forty-eight （58.2%） patients had an elevated total serum IgE and/or eosinophilia and/or positive allergen-specific IgE. Based on these clinical and laboratory features, we proposed Chinese criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Of all 2662 patients, 60.3% were satisfied with our criteria, while only 48.2% satisfied with Hanifin Rajka criteria and 32.7% satisfied with Williams criteria, suggesting a good sensitivity of our criteria in adult/adolescent AD patients. Conclusion： Late-onset of eczema or AD is common. The clinical manifestations of AD are heterogeneous. We have proposed Chinese diagnostic criteria for adolescent and adult AD, which are simple and sensitive for diagnosis of adult/adolescent AD.

The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis （AD） has a unique predisposition for colonization by Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus）, which contributes to the inflammation and grim prognosis of AD. Although the mechanism underlying the S. aureus-induced exacerbation of AD remains unclear, recent studies have found a pivotal role for pattern recognition receptors in regulating the inflammatory responses in S. aureus infection. In the present study, we used a typical mouse model of AD-like skin inflammation and found that S. aureus-associated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 （NOD2） and toll-like receptor 2 （TLR2） ligands exacerbated AD-like symptoms, which were further deteriorated by the in vivo expansion of basophils and eosinophils. Subsequent histological analyses revealed that dermal fibroblasts were pervasive in the AD-like skin lesions, Co-culture of human dermal fibroblasts with basophils and eosinophils resulted in a vigorous cytokine/chemokine response to the NOD2/TLR2 ligands and the enhanced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on the dermal fibroblasts. Basophils and eosinophils were primarily responsible for the AD-related cytokine/chemokine expression in the co-cultures. Direct intercellular contact was necessary for the crosstalk between basophils and dermal fibroblasts, while soluble mediators were sufficient to mediate the eosinophil-fibroblast interactions. Moreover, the intracellular p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways were essential for NOD2/TLR2 ligand-mediated activation of basophils, eosinophils, and dermal fibroblasts in AD-related inflammation. This study provides the evidence of NOD2/TLR2-mediated exacerbation of AD through activation of innate immune cells and therefore sheds light on a novel mechanistic pathway bv which S. aureus contributes to the DathoDhvsiology of AD.

Development of alternatively activated （M2） macrophage phenotypes is a complex process that is coordinately regulated by a plethora of pathways and factors. Here, we report that RBP-J, a DNA-binding protein that integrates signals from multiple pathways including the Notch pathway, is critically involved in polarization of M2 macrophages. Mice deficient in RBP-J in the myeloid compartment exhibited impaired M2 phenotypes in vivo in a chitin-induced model of M2 polarization. Consistent with the in vivo findings, M2 polarization was partially compromised in vitro in Rbpj-deficient macrophages as demonstrated by reduced expression of a subset of M2 effector molecules including arginase 1. Functionally, myeloid Rbpj deficiency impaired M2 effector functions including recruitment of eosinophils and suppression of T cell proliferation. Collectively, we have identified RBP- Jas an essential regulator of differentiation and function of alternatively activated macrophages.

IL-23/IL-17 axis is an important regulator in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL-23 in allergic airway inflammation is not well understood. In this study, we show that in an allergen-induced asthma model, mice with transgenic overexpression of IL-23R exhibited increased airway infiltration of eosinophils and Th2 cytokine production, whereas those deficient in IL-23 displayed reduced airway inflammation. In vitro, IL-23-IL-23R signaling promoted GATA-3 expression and enhanced Th2 cytokine expression. Conversely, in the absence of this signal, Th2 cell differentiation was partially inhibited. Therefore, IL-23 signaling may regulate allergic asthma through modulation of Th2 cell differentiation.

ObjectiveMahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.MethodsThe antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.ResultsThe Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.

Key intracytosolic pattern recognition receptors of innate immunity against bacterial infections are nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain （NOD）-Iike receptors （NLRs）. We elucidated the NOD1 and NOD2-mediated activation of human eosinophils, the principal effector cells for allergic inflammation, upon interacting with human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells in allergic asthma. Eosinophils constitutively expressed NOD1,2 but exhibited nonsignificant responses to release chemokines upon the stimulation by NOD1 ligand 7-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid （iE-DAP） and NOD2 ligand muramyl dipeptide （MDP）. However, iE-DAP and MDP could significantly upregulate cell surface expression of CD18 and intercellular adhesion molecule （ICAM）-I on eosinophils and ICAM-1 on BEAS-2B cells, as well as induce chemokines CCL2 and CXCL8 release in the coculture system （all P〈0.05）. Both eosinophils and BEAS-2B cells were the main source for CXCL8 and CCL2 release in the coculture system upon iE-DAP or MDP stimulation. Direct interaction between eosinophils and BEAS-2B cells is responsible for CCL2 release, and soluble mediators are implicated in CXCL8 release. ERK and NF-KB play regulatory roles for the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines in coculture. Treatment with NOD1,2 ligand could induce the subepithelial fibrosis and significantly enhance the serum concentration of total IgE, chemokine CCL5 for eosinophils and T helper type 2 （Th2） cells and asthma Th2 cytokine IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of ovalbumin-sensitized allergic asthmatic mice （all P〈0.05）. This study provides further evidence of bacterial infection-mediated activation of NOD1,2 in triggering allergic asthma via the activation of eosinophils interacting with bronchial epithelial cells at inflammatory airway.