Genetic profiles of transcriptomic clusters of childhood asthma determine specific severe subtype.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have defined transcriptomic subtypes of adult asthma using samples of induced sputum and bronchial epithelium; however, those procedures are not readily applicable in the clinic, especially for childhood asthma. OBJECTIVE: We aim to dissect the transcriptomic clusters of childhood asthma using highly variably expressed genes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) among patients. METHODS: Gene expression of PBMC from 133 asthmatic children and 11 healthy controls was measured with Illumina microarrays. We applied the k-means clustering algorithm of 2048 genes to assign asthmatic children into clusters. Genes with differential expression between asthma clusters and healthy controls were used to investigate whether they could identify severe asthma of children and adults. RESULTS: We identified 3 asthma clusters with distinct inflammatory profiles in peripheral blood. Cluster 1 had the highest eosinophil count. Cluster 2 showed lower counts of both eosinophils and neutrophils. Cluster 3 had the highest neutrophil count and the poorest treatment control. Compared with other patients, Cluster 3 exhibited a unique gene expression pattern which was associated with changes in the glucocorticoid signalling and activation of the T helper 1/T helper 17 (TH 1/TH 17) immune pathways. In the validation studies, an 84-gene signature could identify severe asthma in children on leucocytes, as well as severe asthma in adults on CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gene expression profiling of PBMC is useful for the identification of TH 1/TH 17-mediated asthma with poor treatment control. PBMC and CD8+ T cells could be important targets for the investigation and identification of severe asthma.

Childhood asthma clusters reveal neutrophil-predominant phenotype with distinct gene expression.

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma comprises different phenotypes with complex pathophysiology. Different asthma phenotypes evoke various clinical symptoms and vary in their responses to treatments. METHODS: We applied k-means clustering algorithm of twelve objective laboratory tests among 351 asthmatic children enrolled in the Taiwanese Consortium of Childhood Asthma Study (TCCAS). We constructed gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from children with different asthma phenotypes. RESULTS: Five distinct phenotypes of childhood asthma were identified and can be characterized by either eosinophil-predominant or neutrophil-predominant inflammatory characteristics. In the gene expression profile analysis, significant differences were noted for neutrophil-predominant asthma, compared with samples from all the other asthma phenotypes. The vast majority of the differentially expressed genes in neutrophil-predominant asthma was associated with corticosteroid response. From an independent inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) response cohort, we also found neutrophils could be activated in this severe asthma phenotype and neutrophil-predominant asthma may be associated with corticosteroid nonresponsiveness. CONCLUSION: Phenotype clustering of childhood asthma can be helpful to identify clinically relevant patients and reveal different inflammatory characteristics in asthmatic children. Neutrophil-predominant asthma is the most severe asthma phenotype with poor corticosteroid response. Gene expression profile of different asthma phenotypes not only improve our knowledge of childhood asthma, but also can guide asthma precision medicine.

Lung-derived SSEA-1(+) stem/progenitor cells inhibit allergic airway inflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Little is known about the role of pulmonary stem/progenitor cells (PSCs) in allergic airway inflammation. METHODS: To identify and investigate the role of PSCs in the bronchial epithelium of neonatal mice, we developed an enzyme-based digestion method to obtain single-cell suspension from lung tissues. Characterization of PSCs was performed using flow cytometry, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence staining, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of SSEA-1(+) (stage-specific embryonic antigen-1) PSCs was studied in an in vivo model of ovalbumin-induced allergic inflammation and an in vitro model of cell-based regulation using flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and immune-blotting. RESULTS: Single-cell suspensions derived from neonatal lung tissue included populations that expressed either SSEA-1(+) or Sca-1(+) (stem cell antigen-1). The SSEA-1(+) PSCs were highly prevalent in neonatal mice, and they were rare in adult mice. Enriched neonatal SSEA-1(+) PSCs had the ability of self-renewal and differentiated into pneumocytes and tracheal epithelial cells. SSEA-1(+) PSCs reduced AHR and airway damage in asthmatic mice by decreasing eosinophil infiltration, inhibiting chemokines/cytokines production, and preserving the level of CCSP. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we demonstrated that neonatal SSEA-1(+) PSCs play an immunomodulatory role in the progression of asthma by reducing lung damage and inhibiting inflammatory responses. Further understanding the molecular mechanisms of neonatal SSEA-1(+) PSCs might shed light on exploring the novel therapeutic approaches for allergic airway inflammation.

Characterization and functional studies of forkhead box protein 3(-) lymphocyte activation gene 3(+) CD4(+) regulatory T cells induced by mucosal B cells.

The induction of mucosal tolerance has been demonstrated to be an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of allergic diseases. Our previous study demonstrated that Peyer's patch B cells could convert naive T cells into regulatory T cells (so-called Treg -of-B(P) cells); however, it is important to characterize this particular subset of Treg -of-B cells for future applications. This study aimed to investigate the role of lymphocyte activating gene 3 (LAG3) in mediating the regulatory function of Treg -of-B(P) cells induced by mucosal follicular B (FOB) cells. Microarray analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to assess the gene expression pattern of Treg -of-B(P) cells. To evaluate the role of LAG3, the in-vitro suppressive function and the alleviation of airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma was assessed. Our data indicated that FOB cells isolated from Peyer's patches had the ability to generate more suppressive Treg -of-B cells with LAG3 expression, compared with CD23(lo) CD21(lo) B cells. LAG3 is not only a marker for Treg -of-B(P) cells, but also participate in the suppressive ability. Moreover, CCR4 and CCR6 could be detected on the LAG3(+) , not LAG3(-) , Treg -of-B(P) cells and would help cells homing to allergic lung. In the murine model of asthma, the adoptive transfer of LAG3(+) Treg -of-B(P) cells was able to sufficiently suppress T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production, eosinophil infiltration and alleviate asthmatic symptoms. LAG3 was expressed in Treg -of-B(P) cells and was also involved in the function of Treg -of-B(P) cells. In the future, this particular subset of Treg -of-B cells might be used to alleviate allergic symptoms.

Association of NLRP3 and CARD8 genetic polymorphisms with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in a Taiwanese population.

OBJECTIVES: An elevated interleukin (IL)-1ß response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been observed in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), suggesting a role for inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of JIA. We aimed to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of the NLRP3 inflammasome components confer risk for oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA in a Taiwanese population. METHOD: A total of 118 JIA patients and 103 healthy controls were genotyped for rs4353135 OR2B11/NLRP3 and rs2043211 CARD8 polymorphisms. Clinical laboratory data and serum IL-1ß of JIA patients were evaluated by medical chart review and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The production of IL-17 in lymphocytes of different genotype carriers was measured using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The variant rs4353135 G allele carrier conferred increased risk for oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA. The G allele was also found to be associated with higher levels of clinical inflammatory markers. Moreover, G variant carriers enhanced the lymphocyte IL-17 response. The G/G genotype further increased the need for treatment with the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor etanercept. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the rs4353135 OR2B11/NLRP3 polymorphism might be functional in, and could contribute to, the pathophysiology of oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA in a Taiwanese population.

GSTP1 is a hub gene for gene-air pollution interactions on childhood asthma.

There is growing evidence that multiple genes and air pollutants are associated with asthma. By identifying the effect of air pollution on the general population, the effects of air pollution on childhood asthma can be better understood. We conducted the Taiwan Children Health Study (TCHS) to investigate the influence of gene-air pollution interactions on childhood asthma. Complete monitoring data for the ambient air pollutants were collected from Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency air monitoring stations. Our results show a significant two-way gene-air pollution interaction between glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1) and PM10 on the risk of childhood asthma. Interactions between GSTP1 and different types of air pollutants have a higher information gain than other gene-air pollutant combinations. Our study suggests that interaction between GSTP1 and PM10 is the most influential gene-air pollution interaction model on childhood asthma. The different types of air pollution combined with the GSTP1 gene may alter the susceptibility to childhood asthma. It implies that GSTP1 is an important hub gene in the anti-oxidative pathway that buffers the harmful effects of air pollution.

Identification and characterization of IgA antibodies against ß2-glycoprotein I in childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a common IgA-mediated vasculitis in children. The antigenic target for IgA is to be determined. OBJECTIVE: To test whether ß2-glycoprotein I (ß2GPI) is an antigenic target for IgA in childhood HSP, and to evaluate the clinical implications and pathogenic role of such IgA autoantibodies. METHODS: The reactivity of patients' plasma samples and purified polyclonal IgA with ß2GPI, ß2GPI-derived peptides and endothelial cells was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association between clinical manifestations and IgA anti-ß2GPI antibodies was also analysed. Finally, IgA-mediated cytotoxicity on endothelial cells was further evaluated. RESULTS: At the acute stage, patients with HSP had significantly higher plasma levels of IgA antibodies against ß2GPI than healthy controls [reference units (RU) 1.14 ± 0.8 vs. 0.42 ± 0.24, P < 0.001]. IgA anti-ß2GPI antibodies were associated with the presence of joint manifestations (with vs. without joint involvement, 1.15 ± 0.64 vs. 0.85 ± 0.47, P = 0.0341) and heavy proteinuria (with vs. without heavy proteinuria, 2.09 ± 2.02 vs. 1.04 ± 0.62, P = 0.0028). Polyclonal IgA from plasma samples positive for IgA anti-ß2GPI antibodies bound well not only to ß2GPI with Kd values < 10(-5) mol L(-1), but also to some ß2GPI-dereived linear peptides (P3, P5, P7, P11 and P12). Moreover, ß2GPI-reactive polyclonal IgA also bound well to endothelial cells and induced complement-dependent cell lysis. CONCLUSION: These findings reveal the clinical and pathogenic relevance of IgA anti-ß2GPI antibodies in childhood HSP and suggest that ß2GPI may be an important autoantigen for HSP.

Construction of a Der p2-transgenic plant for the alleviation of airway inflammation.

In clinical therapy, the amount of antigen administered to achieve oral tolerance for allergic diseases is large, and the cost is a major consideration. In this study, we used tobacco plants to develop a large-scale protein production system for allergen-specific immunotherapy, and we investigated the mechanisms of oral tolerance induced by a transgenic plant-derived antigen. We used plants (tobacco leaves) transgenic for the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 2 (Der p2) antigen to produce Der p2. Mice received total protein extract from Der p2 orally once per day over 6 days (days 0-2 and days 6-8). Mice were also sensitized and challenged with yeast-derived recombinant Der p2 (rDer p2), after which the mice were examined for airway hyper-responsiveness and airway inflammation. After sensitization and challenge with rDer p2, mice that were fed with total protein extracted from transgenic plants showed decreases in serum Der p2-specific IgE and IgG1 titers, decreased IL-5 and eotaxin levels in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid, and eosinophil infiltration in the airway. In addition, hyper-responsiveness was also decreased in mice that were fed with total protein extracted from transgenic plants, and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells were significantly increased in mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes. Furthermore, splenocytes isolated from transgenic plant protein-fed mice exhibited decreased proliferation and increased IL-10 secretion after stimulation with rDer p2. The data here suggest that allergen-expressing transgenic plants could be used for therapeutic purposes for allergic diseases.

Skin-homing CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells exert Th2-like function after staphylococcal superantigen stimulation in atopic dermatitis patients.

BACKGROUND: The effect of staphylococcal superantigens (SsAgs) on cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of SsAgs on the ratio, function, and apoptosis of CCR6(+) subtype and CCR6(-) subtype of CLA(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells among AD patients, asthma/allergic rhinitis (AR) patients without AD, and healthy subjects. METHODS: Using immunofluorescence staining followed by flow cytometric analysis, we analysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with or without staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) stimulation in 20 AD patients, 20 asthma/AR patients without AD, and 20 healthy subjects. RESULTS: SEB decreased CCR6(+) /CCR6(-) ratio in CLA(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells from AD patients and increased CCR6(+) /CCR6(-) ratio in those from healthy subjects. SEB induced the production of type 2 T helper cell (Th2) cytokine interleukin (IL)-5 in CCR6(-) subtype and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in CCR6(+) subtype of CLA(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells. CLA(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells from AD patients produced more IL-5 and less IL-10 after SEB stimulation than those from healthy subjects. CCR6(-) subtype of CLA(+) CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells from AD patients and CCR6(+) subtype of those cells from healthy subjects were more resistant to SEB-induced caspase-3 activation than the other subtype and those from other subjects. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Despite a phenotype of regulatory T cells, skin-homing CD4(+) Foxp3(+) T cells of AD patients exert effector Th2-like function after SsAgs stimulation, which may aggravate allergic skin inflammation.

SLURP1 mutation-impaired T-cell activation in a family with mal de Meleda.

BACKGROUND: Mal de Meleda (MDM) is palmoplantar erythrokeratoderma with an autosomal recessive inheritance and is caused by a mutation in the gene encoding SLURP-1 (lymphocyte antigen 6/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor related protein-1). SLURP-1 is an allosteric agonist to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) and it regulates epidermal homeostasis. In addition, murine studies have shown that nAchR signalling is important for the regulation of T-cell function. Among the family members, patients with the homozygous SLURP1 (previously known as ARS component B) mutation are prone to melanoma and viral infection, which might link to defective T-cell function as well as a derangement of epidermal homeostasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of the SLURP1 gene mutation with T-cell activation in a Taiwanese family with MDM. To test that SLURP-1 is essential for T-cell activation. METHODS: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from a Taiwanese MDM family bearing the G to A substitution in nucleotide 256 in the SLURP1 gene, corresponding to a glycine to arginine substitution at amino acid 86 (G86R) in the SLURP-1 protein. PBMCs from homozygotes and wild-type controls were stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies and the level of T-cell activation was determined by the stimulation index. RESULTS: PBMCs with the heterozygous and homozygous SLURP-1 G86R mutation had defective T-cell activation. This was restored by the addition of 0·5 µg mL(-1) recombinant human SLURP-1 protein. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MDM with the homozygous SLURP-1 G86R mutation may have an impaired T-cell activation. The presence of wild-type SLURP-1 is essential for normal T-cell activation.

Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in FOXP3 gene with systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility: a case-control study.

Foxp3, encoded by the human FOXP3 gene, is a transcription factor that regulates regulatory T-cell (Treg) development and function. Associations have been reported between FOXP3 gene variants and autoimmune endocrinopathy and non-endocrine autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the FOXP3 gene on genetic predisposition to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study cohort comprised 172 SLE patients and 181 controls, who were genotyped for the FOXP3 gene variants. Of five SNPs identified, the FOXP3 -6054 ATT carrier was shown to be associated with renal disorder (odds ratio [OR] 3.26, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.33-8.03, p = 0.0077). Furthermore, lower anti-dsDNA levels were found in patients with the -3279 A carrier (p = 0.0109). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association of FOXP3 SNPs with susceptibility to SLE, as well as sub-phenotype susceptibility. Although the exact role of Foxp3 and FOXP3 gene variations in SLE is still not clear, the present data support the importance of variations in the FOXP3 gene region for the etiology of certain manifestations of SLE.

Interleukin 4 and STAT6 gene polymorphisms are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients.

An imbalance between T Helper 1 (T(H)1) and T Helper 2 (T(H)2) cytokine production is important for the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to investigate gene-gene associations of T(H)1 and T( H)2 cytokines genes in Chinese patients with SLE. Twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eight cytokines genes were genotyped in 110 SLE patients and 138 healthy controls in a case-control association study. The minor allelic frequencies of interleukin4(IL4) -590 T/C, -33 T/C, 9241C/G, and IL10 -592 A/C were significantly increased in SLE patients compared with those in controls (p < 0.05). None of the separate 20 SNPs showed significant association with SLE after Bonferroni correction. An IL4 haplotype -590C/-33C/9241G/14965C was significantly associated with SLE (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-8.9, p = 0.004, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.024). A borderline significant three-locus gene-gene interaction among IL4 9241 C/G, IL4 -33 T/C, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, IL4-induced (STAT6) 2892 C/T was detected by a multifactor dimensionality reduction test (p = 0.051). However, the presence of two at-risk genotypes lead to increased risk of SLE for two-locus interaction using logistic regression method. The risk of SLE increased significantly when a subject has two at-risk genotypes for IL4 -590C and STAT6 2892C (odds ratio, 3.24, 95% CI 1.5-7.0, p = 0.003, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.009), IL4 -33C and STAT6 2892C (odds ratio 3.06, 95% CI 1.4- 6.7, p = 0.005, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.015), as well as IL4 9241G and STAT6 2892C (odds ratio 3.34, 95% CI 1.6-7.1, p = 0.002, Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.006). Further, plasma IL-4 concentrations were significantly lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls (1.59 + 3.53 versus 5.67 + 11.28 pg/ml, p = 0.042). These results indicated that IL4 and STAT6 genes might be involved in the etiology of SLE and potentially increased SLE risk through their interaction effect in Chinese patients.

Lentiviral-mediated Foxp3 RNAi suppresses tumor growth of regulatory T cell-like leukemia in a murine tumor model.

Foxp3, a member of the forkhead transcription factor family, is a master gene that controls the development and function of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells. It is thought to contribute to pathogenesis of many different tumors, including ovarian carcinoma and pancreatic, breast and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Selectively depleted Foxp3-expressing cells with anit-CD25 antibodies or vaccination of Foxp3 mRNA-transfected dendritic cells engender protective immunity against tumor. This study targeted silencing Foxp3 gene expression using RNA interference (RNAi) delivered by a lentiviral vector to evaluate the therapeutic role of Foxp3 short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) in a murine model of leukemia. RLmale symbol1, a mouse CD4(+)CD25(+) leukemia cell with Foxp3 expression, was used as the leukemia animal model. By infecting RLmale symbol1 cells with Lenti-Foxp3-siRNA, we reduced Foxp3 gene expression and the suppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(-) effector cells stimulated with ConA. Moreover, lentiviral-mediated Foxp3 RNAi transduced into RLmale symbol1 cell or injected into the tumor showed suppressive effects on tumor growth and prolonged the survival of tumor-transplanted mice. However, this suppressive effect was abrogated in NOD-SCID mice transplanted with Lenti-Foxp3-siRNA-infected RLmale symbol1 cells. In conclusion, inhibiting Foxp3 gene expression by shRNAs effectively decreases tumor growth of Treg cell-like leukemia. The results may provide a novel strategy for future immunotherapy against cancers.

Cytokine gene-modulated dendritic cells protect against allergic airway inflammation by inducing IL-10(+)IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) T cells.

Asthma is characterized by allergen-induced airway inflammation orchestrated by Th2 cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) were found to efficiently prime naive T-helper cells. Thus, modification of DC function may be used as an ideal tool to treat allergic asthma by changing CD4(+) T-cell differentiation or suppressing Th2 development. In this study, we examined whether a DC-based vaccine can be applied to DCs modified with interleukin (IL)-10- and IL-12-expressing adenoviruses to prevent ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in mice. Herein, we show that these modified DCs efficiently moderated the characteristics of asthma, including expressions of OVA-specific antibodies, airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic airway inflammation, and Th2 cytokines production. Additionally, IL-10 and IL-12 gene-modified DCs enhanced the development of both T-helper type 1 (Th1) and IL-10(+)IFN-gamma(+) (interferon-gamma) double-positive T cells in vivo. In vitro-generated OVA-specific IL-10(+)IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) T cells inhibited the proliferation of naive CD4(+) T cells, and this suppressive effect was a cell contact-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, we showed that combined cytokine-modulated DCs could alleviate established allergic airway inflammation. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-10 and IL-12 gene-modulated DCs are effective in suppressing asthmatic airway inflammation through both immune deviation and immune suppression and are a potential therapeutic approach for asthma.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB and protein kinase B signalling pathways and induces caspase-3 expression in primary human CD4+ T cells.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component in propolis, is known to have anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. In this study, the effects of CAPE on the functions of primary human CD4+ T cells were evaluated in vitro. CAPE significantly suppressed interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-5 production and proliferation of CD4+ T cells stimulated by soluble anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies in both healthy subjects and asthmatic patients. CAPE inhibited nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in T cells. CAPE also induced active caspase-3 expression in CD4+ T cells; CCR4+CD4+ T cells were more sensitive to CAPE induction than CXCR3+CD4+ T cells. Together, these results indicate that CAPE inhibits cytokine production and proliferation of T cells, which might be related to the NF-kappaB and Akt signalling pathways, and that CCR4+CD4+ T cells are more sensitive to CAPE inhibition. This study provides a new insight into the mechanisms of CAPE for immune regulation and a rationale for the use of propolis for the treatment of allergic disorders.

Induction of IL-10 producing CD4+ T cells with regulatory activities by stimulation with IL-10 gene-modified bone marrow derived dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) can induce both tolergenic as well as effective immune responses in the lung. Pulmonary DCs producing interleukin (IL)-10 mediated tolerance induced by respiratory exposure to antigen. IL-10 is an important immunosuppressive cytokine, which inhibits maturation and function of DC. To assess whether IL-10 producing DCs can exert the tolergenic effect through the differentiation of regulatory T cells, bone marrow derived DCs were genetically modified by IL-10 expressing adenovirus. IL-10 gene modified DCs (Ad-IL-10-DC) displayed a characteristic phenotype of immature DCs. Here we showed that in vitro repetitive stimulation of naïve DO11.10 CD4(+) T cells with Ad-IL-10-DCs resulted in a development of IL-10 producing T-cell regulatory cells. These T cells could not proliferate well but also lost their ability to produce interferon-gamma upon restimulation with irradiated splenocytes and ovalbumin peptide. Furthermore, in co-culture experiments these T cells inhibited the antigen-driven proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings demonstrated that IL-10 producing DCs had the potential to induce the differentiation of Tr1-like cells and suggested their therapeutic use.

Small interfering RNA against interleukin-5 decreases airway eosinophilia and hyper-responsiveness.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) has been suggested to be involved in the development of airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). Both clinical and experimental investigations have shown strong correlation between the presence of eosinophils and AHR. In this study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) as an approach to inhibiting the expression of IL-5 and reducing AHR. siRNAs targeting IL-5 were characterized in vitro, and siRNA-expressing lentiviruses were administered intratracheally to OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice. AHR, cytokine levels, serum levels of OVA-specific antibodies and infiltration of inflammatory cells were analyzed to investigate the effects of siRNA in an OVA-induced murine model of asthma. Lentivirus-delivered siRNA targeting IL-5 efficiently moderated the characteristics of asthma, including AHR, cellular infiltration of lung tissues, eotaxin levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and IL-5 mRNA levels in lungs in the mouse model of asthma. However, there was no effect on OVA-specific IgE level. These data demonstrate that siRNA delivered by the lentiviral system is an efficacious therapeutic strategy for asthma.

Association of polymorphisms in complement component C3 gene with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Identification of the genes responsible for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: All the exons and putative promoter regions of 53 candidate genes (TNFRSF6/Fas, TNFSF6/FasL, Fli1, TNFSF10/TRAIL, TNFSF12/TWEAK, Bcl-2, PTEN, FADD, TRADD, CDKN1A, TNFRSF1A/TNFR1, TNFRSF4/OX40, TNFSF4/OX40L, TNFSF5/CD40L, TNFSF13B/BAFF, ICOS, CTLA4, CD28, FYN, G2A, CR2, PTPRC/CD45, CD22, CD19, Lyn, PDCD1, PTPN6, TGFB1, TGFB2, TGFB3, TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3, CD3Z, DNASE1, APCS, MERTK, C3, C1QA, C1QB, C1QG, C2, MBL2, IGHM, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFNG, TNFA, MAN2A1, TNFRSF11A/RANK, TNFRSF11B/OPG, TNFSF11/OPGL) were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their association with SLE was assessed by case-control studies. A total of 509 cases and 964 controls of Japanese descent were enrolled. RESULTS: A total of 316 SNPs was identified. When analysed in the Japanese population, the allele frequencies of T at rs7951 and G at rs2230201 of the C3 gene were 0.110 and 0.626, respectively, in SLE patients; significantly higher than the frequencies of 0.081 and 0.584, respectively, in controls [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.86, P = 0.016 and OR=1.19, 95% CI = 1.01-1.41, P = 0.038, respectively]. The mean serum C3 level of carriers of the rs7951 T allele was significantly lower than that of non-carriers of the T allele in 87 SLE patients whose medical records were available (P = 0.0018). CONCLUSION: rs7951 T allele of the C3 gene was significantly associated with SLE, and decreased serum level of C3 seems to be correlated with this allele.

Levamisole enhances immune response by affecting the activation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Levamisole is a synthetic phenylimidazolthiazole that was first introduced in 1966 as an anti-helmintic agent. Current studies have been focused upon its effect on immune response and on cancer treatment. We examined the molecular mechanisms of levamisole in the activation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) and human T cells. Treatment of DC with levamisole increased the presentation of CD80, CD86, CD83 and human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR) molecules on the cell membrane, as well as the production of interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and IL-10. Levamisole-treated human DC also enhanced T cell activation towards type 1 T helper immune response by inducing interferon-gamma secretion. Neutralization with antibodies against Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 inhibited levamisole-induced production of IL-12 p40 and IL-10, suggesting a vital role for TLR-2 in signalling DC upon incubation with levamisole. The inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 or c-Jun N-terminal kinases pathways also prevented the effects of levamisole on DC in producing IL-12 p40 or IL-10. Taken together, levamisole could enhance immune response towards T helper 1 development through the activation of dendritic cells or T cell aspects.

Comparative usefulness of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare serial C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients and investigate their application as diagnostic parameters and prognostic predictive factors. METHODS: We carried out retrospective chart review among JRA patients who were followed-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) between 1994 and 2005. RESULTS: Thirty-nine girls and 68 boys were included in this study. At the time of diagnosis, the prevalence of ESR was significantly greater than that of CRP (86.8% vs. 47.2%, p < 0.05). ESR revealed more responsiveness to treatment compared to CRP (SRMs were -0.69 and -0.31, respectively). At the time of diagnosis, high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) correlated with poor therapeutic response, as do positive CRP (> 0.8 mg/dL) and high ESR levels (> 40 mm/h) after treatment for six months. Overall, initial high CRP levels (>or= 5mg/dL) demonstrated the strongest predictive role of failure of the first remission. CONCLUSION: For disease diagnosis, ESR can be a better parameter than CRP but a high initial CRP level can strongly predict treatment failure of the first remission.