Leukotriene B4 in equine asthma syndrome: what do we know so far? / Leucotrieno B4 na síndrome asmática equina: o que sabemos até o momento?

The term "equine asthma syndrome" (EAS) was recently proposed due to the resemblance of the equine disease to human asthma. Leukotrienes cause constriction of the bronchi, especially in the lower airways and increase mucus secretion in the respiratory system. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) has been discovered as a strong chemotactic factor, which plays a role in neutrophil migration. The immunologic background of EAS remains not fully elucidated despite many studies on the pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the LTB4 concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of horses with and without pulmonary inflammatory disease. Thirty-five mixed breed horses were studied and LTB4 was determined by using specific ELISA Kit. The horses were grouped by 2 different criteria for statistical analysis of data: 1) according to the values for BALF citology and 2) according to the detection of LTB4 in BALF. There was significant difference of effect of age on the LTB4 detection in equine BALF. Younger animals were the majority where it was possible to detect LTB4 values in LBA. In conclusion, there was an effect of age on the detection of LTB4 in equine BALF, where LTB4 levels were more easily detected in younger animals than older animals and the results of this study raise the possibility of considering future studies with the objective of establishing the real role and the best moment to detect LTB4 in BALF of the equine asthma syndrome.(AU)

Recentemente, o termo "síndrome da asma equina" (SAE) foi proposto devido à semelhança da doença equina à asma humana. Os leucotrienos causam constrição dos brônquios, especialmente nas vias aéreas posteriores e aumentam a secreção de muco no sistema respiratório. O leucotrieno B4 (LTB4) foi descoberto como um forte fator quimiotático, que desempenha um papel na migração de neutrófilos. O fundo imunológico do SAE permanece não completamente elucidado apesar de muitos estudos sobre a patogênese. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a concentração de LTB4 no lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) de equinos com e sem doença inflamatória pulmonar. Trinta e cinco cavalos de raças mistas foram estudados e o LTB4 foi determinado usando o kit ELISA específico. Os animais foram agrupados por dois critérios diferentes para análise estatística dos dados: 1) de acordo com os valores para citologia do LBA e 2) de acordo com a detecção do LTB4 no LBA. Houve diferença significativa do efeito da idade na detecção do LTB4 no LBA equino. Os animais mais jovens foram a maioria onde foi possível detectar os valores de LTB4 no LBA. Em conclusão, houve um efeito da idade na detecção de LTB4 em LBA equino, onde os níveis de LTB4 foram mais facilmente detectados em animais jovens do que em animais mais velhos e foi possível detectar a concentração de LTB4 no LBA equino e os resultados deste estudo levantam a possibilidade de considerar futuros estudos com o objetivo de estabelecer o real papel e o melhor momento para detectar LTB4 no LBA da síndrome asmática equina.(AU)

Interleukin (IL)-4 induces production of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractants (CINCs) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in lungs of asthmatic rats / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The present study aimed to examine the effect of interleukin (IL)-4 on neutrophil chemotaxis in airway inflammation in asthmatic rats and the possible mechanism. Male Wistar rats were intranasally instilled with recombinant rat (rr) IL-4 (rrIL-4) at different doses [2, 4 or 8 μg/animal, dissolved in 200 μL normal saline (NS)] or rrIL-4 at 4 μg/animal (dissolved in 200 μL NS). NS (200 μL) and LPS (6 mg/kg/animal, dissolved in 200 μL NS) were intranasally given respectively in the negative and positive control groups. Moreover, the asthmatic lung inflammation was induced in rats which were then intranasally treated with rrIL-4 (4 μg/animal) or LPS (6 mg/kg/animal). The normal rats treated with different doses of rrIL-4 and those asthmatic rats were sacrificed 6 h later. And animals instilled with rrIL-4 at 4 μg were sacrificed 6, 12 or 24 h later. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were harvested for detection of leukocyte counts by Wright-Giemsa staining and lung histopathology by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in BALF were determined by ELISA. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of CINCs (CINC-1, CINC-2α, CINC-2β, CINC-3) and ICAM-1 in lung tissues. The results showed that the intranasal instillation of IL-4 did not induce a recruitment of neutrophils in BALF in rats. However, IL-4 could increase the CINC-1 level in BALF in a dose-dependent manner at 6 h. But the mRNA expression levels of CINC-1, CINC-2α, CINC-2β, CINC-3 were not significantly increased in lungs of IL-4-treated rats relative to NS negative control group. Moreover, IL-4 was found to augment the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 in lungs and the ICAM-1 level in BALF at 6 h. However, the increase in CINC-1 and ICAM-1 levels in BALF of IL-4-treated asthmatic rats was not significantly different from that in untreated asthmatic rats. These findings indicate that IL-4 does not directly recruit neutrophils in the rat lungs, but it may contribute to airway neutrophilia through up-regulation of CINC-1 and ICAM-1.

Cellulolytic potential of a novel strain of Paenibacillus sp. isolated from the armored catfish Parotocinclus maculicauda gut

A cellulolytic bacterial strain, designated P118, isolated from the gut of the tropical fish Parotocinclus maculicauda was identified as belonging to the genus Paenibacillus based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The novel strain was Gram-positive, spore-forming and rod-shaped. Catalase but not oxidase was produced. Carboxymethylcellulose was hydrolyzed but starch or gelatin was not. Acetoin production was negative whereas nitrate reduction and urease production were positive. Many carbohydrates served as carbon sources for growth. MK-7 was the predominant isoprenoid quinone. Anteiso-C15:0 (38.73 percent) and C16:0 (20.85 percent) were the dominant cellular fatty acids. Strain P118 was closely related to Paenibacillus amylolyticus NRRL NRS-290, P. pabuli HSCC 492, P. tundrae Ab10b, P. xylanexedens B22a, and P. tylopili MK2 with 98.3-98.8 percent 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The results presented here suggest that strain P118 represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus and it is a potential strain for further studies concerning its role in the production of industrially important products from cellulosic biomass.

Chemotaxis-related factors are expressed abnormally in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of multiple myeloma patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the mRNA expression levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The mRNA expression levels of HGF, SDF-1, MCP-1 and IL-8 in bone marrow MSC from 20 newly diagnosed MM patients were detected by real time quantitative RT-PCR and were compared with that in 9 controls. The results indicated that the mean mRNA expression level of HGF was up-regulated in MM patients, as compared with controls (p < 0.01). However, the mean mRNA expression level of SDF-1 mRNA was down-regulated in MM patients, as compared with controls (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 between MM and control cohorts (p > 0.05). It is concluded that BM-MSC from MM patients express HGF, SDF-1, MCP-1, IL-8, but these chemotaxis-related factors expression of bone marrow microenvironment cellular component are dysregulated in MM patients, which may result from the interplay between MM cells and MSC.

Estrategias en la selección de las plantas medicinales a investigar / Strategies for the selection of medicinal plants to be studied

Antecedentes: las especies vegetales se calculan entre 250 000 y 500 000, el criterio en su selección para desarrollar medicamentos en ocasiones puede ser un problema; de no concebirse adecuadamente, los resultados pueden ser infructuosos. Objetivo: analizar diferentes estrategias que se pueden adoptar en este sentido. Métodos: se incluyen y valoran 7 criterios para el enfoque de estas investigaciones. Resultados: los criterios más empleados hoy día son: colecta al azar (sobre todo cuando hay intereses comerciales) y basados en el conocimiento etnomédico de los pueblos (máxime en el desempeño académico); otras disciplinas más recientes como la genómica y metabolómica tienen ya su aplicación en este campo. En la práctica, cuando procede, estos criterios se pueden combinar. Además, pueden ser esenciales en la selección elementos que en apariencia no se relacionan, como son las tecnologías de la información, bases de datos especializadas, aspectos conservacionistas y bioéticos. Conclusiones: los criterios para seleccionar especies del reino vegetal para desarrollar medicamentos pueden ser variados, los límites entre estos no siempre se mantienen y la combinación entre algunos es factible.

Background: Plant species are estimated to be 250 000 to 500 000, so the selection criteria for development of drugs may sometimes be a problem. If they are not properly designed, then the results may be useless. Objectives: to analyze several strategies for selection that can be adopted. Methods: Seven criteria were included and assessed for the research approach. Results: The most used current criteria were random collection (mainly influenced by commercial interests) and ethnomedical knowledge of peoples-based criteria (mainly academic performance considered); other recent disciplines like Genomics and Metabolomics are already been implemented in this field. When appropriate, these criteria may be combined. Furthermore, some elements that seem to have no relation with selection criteria may be essential in this regard such as information technologies, specialized database and conservation and bioethical aspects. Conclusions: the selection criteria of plant species to develop drugs may be varied, restrictions are not always kept and the combination of some of them is feasible.

Screening and formulation of chemoattractant coatings for artificial reef structures.

This study was carried out to augment the colonization of marine benthic communities on artificial reef structure. Increasing marine pollution along with various natural hazards cause severe damages to marine algae and associated fauna. In recent years, artificial reefs have been deployed in coastal regions of several parts of the world in order to increase the marine productivity. They are mainly built with concrete materials, however their leachates have considerable impacts on algae. Therefore to increase the algal colonization five chemoattractants such as ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, ammonium nitrate, sodium phosphate and ferrous lactate were screened against spores of a fouling alga, Ulva pertusa. FeSO4 / ZnO (8:2) and ferrous lactate coatings showed the highest spore attachment with 52 +/- 5.2 cm2 and 79.5 +/- 10.2 cm2 spores respectively (p<0.01). Furthermore using these chemoattractants, coating formulations were made and their performances were investigated at East coast (Ayajin harbor) and South coast (Meejo harbor) of Korea. A maximum fouling coverage (with green algae 25%, red algae 11.3% and brown algae 63.7%) was estimated from ferrous lactate coatings (p<0.01). Different composition of coating formulations and their chemoattractive properties were evaluated.

Comparison of the effectiveness of four organic chemoattractants towards zoospores of Ulva pertusa and macrofouling.

Algal spores respond to many environmental variables, especially to chemical "cues". This chemotactic response can be utilized to attract spores, thereby colonization of a new substrata is possible to be influenced. In this attempt, four chemoattractant candidates were screened against spores of Ulva pertusa to reveal their efficiencies. Attachment and subsequent germination of Ulva spores were effectively influenced by these chemoattractant candidates. In particular 100 microg cm2 of D-glucose coating was found to enhance spore attachment by > 150%. Furthermore, field investigations carried out with test panels, clearly indicate the chemoattractive properties of test coatings. In recent years, various anthropogenic activities and natural hazards cause detrimental impacts on the benthic algae and other fishery resources. Artificial reefs have been laid on many coastal regions to increase or restore marine resources. Chemoattractant coatings can be applied on artificial surfaces to increase the colonization of benthic forms. It also can be used in the mariculture devices. Influence of chemoattractants on Ulva spores and fouling biomass estimated on test panels are discussed.

Alteration of tazarotene induced gene-2 expression in psoriasis vulgaris / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of tazarotene induced gene-2 (TIG2) in psoriasis vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TIG2 protein and mRNA expressions in normal tissues, psoriatic lesions and uninvolved skin tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TIG2 protein and mRNA were expressed in all the layers of normal and uninvolved epidermis. TIG2 expression was detected in the upper layers of the stratum spinosum of the marginal region of the psoriatic lesions, but not in the central area of the lesions. TIG2 expression was significantly lower in the basal layers of the central area of the paoriasis than that in the normal skin and uninvolved tissues (P < 0.01), and also lower in the marginal regions of the lesions (P < 0.01).The suprabasal layers of the marginal region in the lesion showed significantly lower TIG2 expression than the central area of the lesion (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TIG2 may maintain the normal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and implicate in the pathogenesis and development of psoriasis vulgaris.</p>

Osteogénesis y enfermedades óseas / Osteogenesis and bone diseases

Los osteoclastos son células especializadas cuya actividad biológica es, conjuntamente con la de los osteoblastos, la homeostasis del tejido óseo. En el proceso de inducción y de maduración de los osteoclastos u osteoclastogénesis, el factor estimulante de colonias de macrófago (CSF-1), el receptor asociado a la activación del factor nuclear kappa-beta (RANK) y su ligando (RANKL), y la osteprotegerina (OPG), desempeñan un papel importante a partir de células provenientes de la línea granulocito macrófago. La osteoclastogénesis involucra por lo menos 24 genes a través del eje RANK/RANKL/OPG, cuya expresión diferencial regula la resorción y la densidad ósea. La señalización desde el receptor de membrana RANK hasta las proteínas que se unen a promotores de genes específicos de linaje osteoclástico (TRAP, CATK, integrina 3, entre otros), se realiza a través de por lo menos cinco vías de señalización diferentes mediadas por proteínas quinasas, siendo la del factor nuclear NF- la más estudiada. La señalización entre el receptor y los factores trascripcionales involucra la proteína adaptadora citoplásmica TRAF-6. En algunos de los mensajeros secundarios se han identificado mecanismos epigéneticos y varios niveles de control, que comparten moléculas mediadoras para la respuesta a hormonas y a citoquinas involucradas en el control de la densidad ósea y de la homeostasis de calcio. Sin embargo, no se ha llegado a una compresión detallada de los procesos de regulación osteoclástica. El entendimiento de la vía del RANK y de las vías anexas permitirá aproximaciones integrales para el manejo más adecuado de la osteoporosis y otras patologías, contribuyendo a resolver problemas médicos asociados a enfermedades degenerativas osteomusculares o metabólicas. El hecho de que mutaciones en los genes para RANK y para OPG causen enfermedades graves en el sistema óseo sugiere que la inhibición de la señalización mediada por RANKL podría ser una estrategia terapéutica para el...

A model for cell type localization in the migrating slug of Dictyostelium discoideum based on differential chemotactic sensitivity to cAMP and differential sensitivity to suppression of chemotaxis by ammonia.

The three basic cell types in the migrating slug of Dictyostelium discoideum show differential chemotactic response to cyclic AMP (cAMP) and differential sensitivity to suppression of the chemotaxis by ammonia.The values of these parameters indicate a progressive maturation of chemotactic properties during the transdifferentiation of slug cell types.We present a model that explains the localization of the three cell types within the slug based on these chemotactic differences and on the maturation of their chemotactic properties.

A case of recurred gastric dysplasia associated with eosinophilic gastroenteritis / 대한내과학회지

The association of malignant tumors and peripheral eosinophilia or tissue eosinophilic infiltration has been uncommonly described. Moreover, a recent study has demonstrated some gastric cancers can express eosinophilic chemotactic factor. Interestingly, we recently experienced a case of recurrent eosinophilic gastroenteritis with relapsing gastric dysplasia. It is suggested that gastric dysplasia can also produce eosinophilic chemotactic factors and eosinophilic gastroenteritis can develop with recurred dysplasia. In this patient, eosinophilia served as an indicator of disease activity or as a marker. Eosinophilia may represent an important disease marker with prognostic significance and may rarely cause disease on its own.

Comparison of immunological profiles between pediatric and adult patients with AIDS in China / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the immunological profiles of pediatric and adult patients with AIDS in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 103 pediatric AIDS patients, 38 adult patients, 88 healthy children, and 72 healthy adults were enrolled. CD4 + T lymphocyte counts were determined by four-color flow cytometer and HIV-RNA levels were measured in EDTA plasma by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-16, IL-18, regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), stromal cell-derived factor-(SDF-1) alpha, SDF-1 beta, and macrophage stimulate protein (MSP) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and soluble Fas (sFas) were measured to indicate the activation of immune system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean CD4 + T cell count in pediatric patients with AIDS was significantly lower than in healthy children (P < 0.01), as between the adult AIDS patients and healthy adults (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines in pediatric patients were significantly higher than in healthy children (P < 0.01). The level of MSP in adult patients was significantly lower than in healthy adults and other cytokines were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines, except SDF1 alpha and beta 2-MG, were significantly higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abnormal immune activation is induced in both pediatric and adult patients with HIV-1 infection. The level of immune activation is higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients.</p>

Biocirugía: utilización de larvas de insectos necrófagos en la curación de heridas. La terapia larval / Biosurgery: use of larvae of necrophage insects in wound healing. The larval therapy

La terapia larval es una técnica que permite aplicar las larvas de algunas especies de dípteros sobre heridas crónicas o sobre focos de infección localizados, con la finalidad de restaurar el tejido afectado. La velocidad y la eficacia del tratamiento, sumadas a la casi nula pérdida de tejido sano durante el proceso de reparación tisular, han hecho de la terapia larval o biocirugía una alternativa viable para la curación de heridas asociadas con entidades como pie diabético, úlceras venosas, úlceras crónicas de la piel y quemaduras, así como de ciertos tipos de tumores beningos, abscesos y osteomielitis.Aunque la medicina moderna ha sido, en muchos casos, reticente a la aplicación de terapias de esta índole, eventos como la resistencia a los antibióticos y las alteraciones en el proceso de cicatrización en las heridas crónicas han permitido modificar la posición inicial de muchos médicos al respecto.

Attraction to amino acids by Lymnaea acuminata, the snail host of Fasciola species

Adult Lymnaea acuminata (average length 20-22 mm) were collected locally from lakes and low-lying submerged fields from Gorakhpur. The chemoattraction studies were made in round glass aquaria measuring 30 cm in diameter and filled to a depth of 10 mm with 500 ml dechlorinated tap water. Each aquarium was divided into four concentric zones. At the starting time of the assay 10 snails were placed on the circumference of outermost zone 0. Snail attractant pellets (SAP) were added simultaneously in the center of central zone 3. SAP of different amino acids were prepared at concentrations of 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100 mM/2 percent agar solution and, subsequently, spread to a uniform thickness of 5 mm. After cooling, SAP were cut in small pieces of 5 mm in diameter. Lymnaea acuminata's attraction to amino acids was studied using different amino acid concentrations in SAP. Pellets containing amino acids with non-polar R groups (proline and tryptophan), a charged polar group (arginine) and uncharged polar R groups (serine, citrulline and asparagine) were tested. The snails were more attracted to the uncharged polar R group amino acid serine than to other groups of amino acids. The preferred amino acid concentration was 80 mM. The attraction of snails to different amino acids was concentration dependent. Snails could discriminate amongst the different amino acids at > or = 50 mM.

Differential Mast Cell Response to Different Bacteria

Mast cells (MCs) are highly specialized for the synthesis and secretion of pharmacologically active products. Although implicated in various inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergy, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease, MCs have also an important physiologic role in immunosurveillance and modulation of host's innate immune responses following bacterial infection. Here, we present that MCs show varying capability of recognizing and responding to different bacteria. Whereas MCs were readily degranulated and released neutrophil chemoattractants in response to E. coli or S. aureus infections, they failed to degranulate during S. typhimurium infections. Consequently, E. coli infections were associated with a vigorous neutrophil response and early bacterial clearance whereas S. typhimurium infections were associated limited neutrophil influx and bacterial multiplication at sites of infection. Interestingly, injection of compound 48/80, a MC specific activator, at sites of S. typhimurium infection triggered MC mediated neutrophil influx and bacterial clearance.

Differential Mast Cell Response to Different Bacteria

Mast cells (MCs) are highly specialized for the synthesis and secretion of pharmacologically active products. Although implicated in various inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergy, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease, MCs have also an important physiologic role in immunosurveillance and modulation of host's innate immune responses following bacterial infection. Here, we present that MCs show varying capability of recognizing and responding to different bacteria. Whereas MCs were readily degranulated and released neutrophil chemoattractants in response to E. coli or S. aureus infections, they failed to degranulate during S. typhimurium infections. Consequently, E. coli infections were associated with a vigorous neutrophil response and early bacterial clearance whereas S. typhimurium infections were associated limited neutrophil influx and bacterial multiplication at sites of infection. Interestingly, injection of compound 48/80, a MC specific activator, at sites of S. typhimurium infection triggered MC mediated neutrophil influx and bacterial clearance.

Direct labeling of chemotactic peptide ForNleLFNleYK with radioiodine in vivo stability evaluation

Some peptides are naturally occuring inflammatory mediators which specifically bind to receptors abundantly present in the area of inflammation, and owing to their small size, they rapidly clear from all non-target tissues. ForNleLFNleYK is a synthetic chemotactic peptide with high affinity to receptors on the white blood cell membranes. This hexapeptide contains a tyrosine residue susceptible to iodination by oxidative eletrophilic substitution - direct labeling. The aim of this study was the radioiodination of ForNleLFNleYK using the direct method (chloramine T) and its in vivo stability evaluation. The labeled compound was obtained in a short reaction time with high radiochemical purity (96.8 ± 0.84 por ciento) and remained stable over 48 hours when stored at low temperature. Biological distribution studies showed an uptake in inflammated tight significantly greater than the normal tight (p < 0.05, Student t test), and some in vivo dehalogenation of the compound.

Production and Expression of Gro-alpha and RANTES by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Isolated from Patients with Kawasaki Disease and Measles

We investigated whether the production and gene expression of Gro-alpha and RANTES in Kawasaki disease differ in measles. Forty-two samples from 14 patients in different clinical stages of Kawasaki disease, eight samples from 8 patients in the acute stage of measles and seven samples from 7 healthy children were collected. The present study was performed using ELISA and RT-PCR for the productions and gene expression of the chemokines. The production of Gro-alpha was markedly elevated during the acute stage of measles compared with Kawasaki disease. Moreover, the expression of Gro-alpha was increased in every case of measles, but not in Kawasaki disease. The production of RANTES was elevated in the acute stage of both diseases when compared to the healthy control. However, the plasma RANTES level did not change significantly according to the clinical stages of Kawasaki disease. A correlation between the production and gene expression of RANTES and Gro-alpha was not found in Kawasaki disease. These results suggest that Kawasaki disease differs from measles with regard to Gro-alpha production and expression, but not RANTES. Gro-alpha might play an important role in the acute stage of measles, however not in Kawasaki disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of Gro-alpha as a marker in measles.

Chemotaxis of Blood Neutrophils from Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is characterized by chronic upper and lower respiratory infections which are caused by the grossly impaired ciliary transport. Since the cilia and neutrophils both utilize microtubular system for their movement, it has been speculated that neutrophil motility such as chemotaxis might be impaired in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. Neutrophils were purified from whole blood from 16 patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia and from 15 healthy controls. Chemotactic responses of neutrophils to leukotriene B4 (LTB4), complement 5a (C5a), and formylmethion-ylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP) were examined using the under agarose method. The chemotactic differentials in response to LTB4, C5a, and fMLP in neutrophils from the patient group were significantly lower than the corresponding values in neutrophils from the control group (p<0.05 for all comparisons). The difference in chemotactic index between the two groups was statistically significant for LTB4 and fMLP (p<0.05 for both comparisons), but not for C5a (p=0.20). Neutrophils from patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia showed a decreased chemotactic response as compared with those from normal subjects. It is concluded that the increased frequency of respiratory tract infection in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia is possibly due to the defective directional migration of neutrophils, as well as to the defective mucociliary clearance of the airways.

Enhanced Serum Neutrophil Chemotactic Activity was Noted in Both Early and Late Asthmatic Responses During Lysine-Aspirin Bronchoprovocation Test in ASA-Sensitive Asthmatic Patients

To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of late asthmatic response in comparison to early asthmatic response, changes of serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) using the Boyden chamber method and histamine level using the automated fluorometric analyzer were observed in 13 aspirin (ASA)-sensitive asthma subjects (group I: 7 early responders and group II: 6 dual responders) during lysine aspirin bronch-oprovocation test (L-ASA BPT). Sera were collected before, and 30 min and 240 min after L-ASA BPT. Serum NCA increased significantly after 30 min (p=0.02) and decreased significantly at 240 min (p=0.02) in group I, while serum NCA of group II increased significantly at 30 min (p=0.04), tending to increase further up to 240 min with no statistical significance. NCA at 240 min in group II subjects was significantly higher than baseline NCA (p=0.02). The serum NCAs collected before and 240 min were significantly higher in group II than in group I (p<0.05, respectively). There were no significant changes in serum histamine levels during L-ASA BPT in both groups. NCA derived from mast cell may contribute to the development of early asthmatic response induced by L-ASA inhalation. There may be a possible involvement of NCA derived from mononuclear cells during late asthmatic response.