Identification and validation of three potential biomarkers and immune microenvironment for in severe asthma in microarray and single-cell datasets.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify genetic biomarkers and cellular communications associated with severe asthma in microarray data sets and single cell data sets. The potential gene expression levels were verified in a mouse model of asthma.Methods: We identified differentially expressed genes from the microarray datasets (GSE130499 and GSE63142) of severe asthma, and then constructed models to screen the most relevant biomarkers to severe asthma by machine learning algorithms (LASSO and SVM-RFE), with further validation of the results by GSE43696. Single-cell datasets (GSE193816 and GSE227744) were identified for potential biomarker-specific expression and intercellular communication. Finally, The expression levels of potential biomarkers were verified with a mouse model of asthma.Results: The 73 genes were differentially expressed between severe asthma and normal control. LASSO and SVM-RFE recognized three genes BCL3, DDIT4 and S100A14 as biomarkers of severe asthma and had good diagnostic effect. Among them, BCL3 transcript level was down-regulated in severe asthma, while S100A14 and DDIT4 transcript levels were up-regulated. The transcript levels of the three genes were confirmed in the mouse model. Infiltration of neutrophils and mast cells were found to be increased in severe asthma and may be associated with bronchial epithelial cells through BMP and NRG signalingConclusions: We identified three differentially expressed genes (BCL3, DDIT4 and S100A14) of diagnostic significance that may be involved in the development of severe asthma and these gene expressions could be serviced as biomarker of severe asthma and investigating the function roles could bring new insights into the underlying mechanisms.

Global research trends on innate lymphoid cells in the brain, gut and lung field: a bibliometric and visualized analysis.

Background: ILCs play important roles in the brain, gut, and lungs. Researchers are attempting to establish a research framework on the brain-gut-lung axis using ILCs. However, no one has yet conducted a bibliometric analysis to summarize the findings. In this study, we utilized bibliometrics to analyze the emerging trends and focal areas of ILCs in the brain, intestine, and lung. We aim to provide references for future research on the brain-gut-lung axis. Methods: To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on ILCs in the fields of brain, intestine, and lung, we utilized software such as HistCite, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. Our analysis focused on various aspects, including the number of publications, countries, authors, journals, co-cited documents, and keywords. This approach allowed us to gain valuable insights into the research landscape surrounding ILCs in these specific fields. Results: A total of 8411 articles or reviews on ILCs in the fields of brain, intestine, and lung were included. The number of published articles has shown a consistent upward trend since 2003. A total of 45279 authors from 99 countries have contributed to these articles. The United States has the highest number of publications (n=3044) and the most cited articles (TGCS=210776). The top three published authors in this field are David Artis, Marco Colonna and Andrew NJ McKenzie. The journal Immunity is the most authoritative choice for researchers. The main research focuses in this field include NK cell, ILC2, tumor immunity, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, airway inflammation, RORγT, and immunotherapy. In recent years, cancer and tumor microenvironment have emerged as hot keywords, particularly immunotherapy, PD-1 related directions, indicating a potential shift in research focus. Conclusion: European and American countries have been pivotal in conducting research on ILCs, while China has produced a significant number of publications, its impact is still limited. Tumors are likely to emerge as the next focal points in this field. The connection and regulation between the brain and the lung are not yet fully understood, and further investigation is necessary to explore the role of ILCs in the brain-lung axis.

Comparative analysis of clinical and immunological profiles across Omicron BA.5.2 subvariants using next-generation sequencing in a Chinese cohort.

Objective: The Omicron BA.5.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 has undergone several evolutionary adaptations, leading to multiple subvariants. Rapid and accurate characterization of these subvariants is essential for effective treatment, particularly in critically ill patients. This study leverages Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to elucidate the clinical and immunological features across different Omicron BA.5.2 subvariants. Methods: We enrolled 28 patients infected with the Omicron variant, hospitalized in Zhangjiajie People's Hospital, Hunan, China, between January 20, 2023, and March 31, 2023. Throat swabs were collected upon admission for NGS-based identification of Omicron subvariants. Clinical data, including qSOFA scores and key laboratory tests, were collated. A detailed analysis of lymphocyte subsets was conducted to ascertain the extent of immune cell damage and disease severity. Results: Patients were infected with various Omicron subvariants, including BA.5.2.48, BA.5.2.49, BA.5.2.6, BF.7.14, DY.1, DY.2, DY.3, and DY.4. Despite having 43 identical mutation sites, each subvariant exhibited unique marker mutations. Critically ill patients demonstrated significant depletion in total lymphocyte count, T cells, CD4, CD8, B cells, and NK cells (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in clinical and immunological markers across the subvariants. Conclusion: This study reveals that critically ill patients infected with different Omicron BA.5.2 subvariants experience similar levels of cellular immune dysfunction and inflammatory response. Four mutations - ORF1a:K3353R, ORF1a:L3667F, ORF1b:S997P, S:T883I showed correlation with immunological responses although this conclusion suffers from the small sample size. Our findings underscore the utility of NGS in the comprehensive assessment of infectious diseases, contributing to more effective clinical decision-making.

Six-month follow-up after recovery of COVID-19 Delta variant survivors via CT-based deep learning.

Purpose: Using computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) methods to analyze the discharge and 6-month follow-up data of COVID-19 Delta variant survivors, evaluate and summarize the recovery and prognosis, and improve people's awareness of this disease. Methods: This study collected clinical data, SGRQ questionnaire results, and lung CT scans (at both discharge and 6-month follow-up) from 41 COVID-19 Delta variant survivors. Two senior radiologists evaluated the CT scans before in-depth analysis. Deep lung parenchyma enhancing (DLPE) method was used to accurately segment conventional lesions and sub-visual lesions in CT images, and then quantitatively analyze lung injury and recovery. Patient recovery was also measured using the SGRQ questionnaire. The follow-up examination results from this study were combined with those of the original COVID-19 for further comparison. Results: The participants include 13 males (31.7%) and 28 females (68.3%), with an average age of 42.2 ± 17.7 years and an average BMI of 25.2 ± 4.4 kg/m2. Compared discharged CT and follow-up CT, 48.8% of survivors had pulmonary fibrosis, mainly including irregular lines (34.1%), punctuate calcification (12.2%) and nodules (12.2%). Compared with discharged CT, the ground-glass opacity basically dissipates at follow-up. The mean SGRQ score was 0.041 (0-0.104). The sequelae of survivors mainly included impaired sleep quality (17.1%), memory decline (26.8%), and anxiety (21.9%). After DLPE process, the lesion volume ratio decreased from 0.0018 (0.0003, 0.0353) at discharge to 0.0004 (0, 0.0032) at follow-up, p < 0.05, and the absorption ratio of lesion was 0.7147 (-1.0303, 0.9945). Conclusion: The ground-glass opacity of survivors had dissipated when they were discharged from hospital, and a little fibrosis was seen in CT after 6-month, mainly manifested as irregular lines, punctuate calcification and nodules. After DLPE and quantitative calculations, we found that the degree of fibrosis in the lungs of most survivors was mild, which basically did not affect lung function. However, there are a small number of patients with unabsorbed or increased fibrosis. Survivors mainly had non-pulmonary sequelae such as impaired sleep quality and memory decline. Pulmonary prognosis of Delta variant patients was better than original COVID-19, with fewer and milder sequelae.

Exploring New Characteristics: Using Deep Learning and 3D Reconstruction to Compare the Original COVID-19 and Its Delta Variant Based on Chest CT.

Purpose: Computer-aided diagnostic methods were used to compare the characteristics of the Original COVID-19 and its Delta Variant. Methods: This was a retrospective study. A deep learning segmentation model was applied to segment lungs and infections in CT. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction was used to create 3D models of the patient's lungs and infections. A stereoscopic segmentation method was proposed, which can subdivide the 3D lung into five lobes and 18 segments. An expert-based CT scoring system was improved and artificial intelligence was used to automatically score instead of visual score. Non-linear regression and quantitative analysis were used to analyze the dynamic changes in the percentages of infection (POI). Results: The POI in the five lung lobes of all patients were calculated and converted into CT scores. The CT scores of Original COVID-19 patients and Delta Variant patients since the onset of initial symptoms were fitted over time, respectively. The peak was found to occur on day 11 in Original COVID-19 patients and on day 15 in Delta Variant patients. The time course of lung changes in CT of Delta Variant patients was redetermined as early stage (0-3 days), progressive and peak stage (4-16 days), and absorption stage (17-42 days). The first RT-PCR negative time in Original COVID-19 patients appeared earlier than in Delta Variant patients (22 [17-30] vs. 39 [31-44], p < 0.001). Delta Variant patients had more re-detectable positive RT-PCR test results than Original COVID-19 patients after the first negative RT-PCR time (30.5% vs. 17.1%). In the early stage, CT scores in the right lower lobe were significantly different (Delta Variant vs. Original COVID-19, 0.8 ± 0.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.6, p = 0.039). In the absorption stage, CT scores of the right middle lobes were significantly different (Delta Variant vs. Original COVID-19, 0.6 ± 0.7 vs. 0.3 ± 0.4, p = 0.012). The left and the right lower lobes contributed most to lung involvement at any given time. Conclusion: Compared with the Original COVID-19, the Delta Variant has a longer lung change duration, more re-detectable positive RT-PCR test results, different locations of pneumonia, and more lesions in the early stage, and the peak of infection occurred later.

lncRNA SNHG16 Mediates Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Cholangiocarcinoma by Directly Targeting miR-146a-5p/GATA6 Axis.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumour with high recurrence and mortality rates and poor prognosis. However, the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the roles and regulatory mechanism of SNHG16 in the occurrence and development of CCA. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) was used to predict the expressions of SNHG16 and GATA6 in CCA samples from TCGA database. The levels of SNHG16, miR-146a-5p and GATA6 were evaluated using qRT-PCR. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting was applied to analyse the protein levels of GATA6 and apoptosis-related proteins. SNHG16 was significantly elevated in CCA tissues from TCGA database and CCA cell lines. Moreover, downregulation of SNHG16 restricted cell proliferation and increased apoptotic rate of RBE and HuCCT1 cells. miR-146a-5p, a downstream target of SNHG16, was shown to be an intermediate mediator of GATA6 expression regulated by SNHG16. In addition, either the miR-146a-5p inhibitor or overexpression of GATA6 obviously impaired the regulatory effects of SNHG16 downregulation in RBE and HuCCT1 cells. These data demonstrated that SNHG16 promoted cell proliferation and repressed apoptosis by regulating the miR-146a-5p/GATA6 axis, which provides some helpful insights for the diagnosis and treatment of CCA.

Overexpression of ATP5b promotes cell proliferation in asthma.

Asthma is a complicated systemic disease of the airways, which is characterized by variable symptoms, including bronchial hyper­responsive-ness, inflammation and airflow obstruction. The prevalence of asthma has increased 2­3­fold over recent decades in developed countries; however, the molecular mechanism of asthma remains unclear. In the current study, the expression of recombinant protein Dermatophagoides farinaeI (Derf I) was induced by isopropyl ß­D­1­thiogalactoside (IPTG) and purified using Ni­NTA. Derf I, an important antigen of asthma, was used to establish the animal model of asthma. Airway hyper­responsiveness was mea-sured using unrestrained whole­body plethysmography with a four­chamber system. Immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG and IgG2a were analyzed using indirect enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Proteomic technology was applied to detect the difference between the normal lung tissue and asthma lung tissue samples of the asthma model. Cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the splenocyte culture medium were measured by ELISA and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression of ATP synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, ß polypeptide (ATP5b). In addition, cell growth of arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) was evaluated by MTT assay. In the current study, Derf I was successfully used to construct the animal model of asthma. Out of 23 proteins that exhibit 3­fold upregulation or downregulation, ATP5b was chosen for further investigation. The data indicated that ATP5b was overexpressed in the asthma lung tissue when compared with the normal lung tissue. However, when ATP5b was knocked down, cell growth decreased. Therefore, overexpressed ATP5b leads to airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) proliferation and finally to ASM thickening. Thus, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report that the expression level of ATP5b was markedly increased in lung tissue samples of an asthma model compared with the tissue samples from normal lungs, which promoted ASMC proliferation and contributed to airway remodeling.

The role of hypoxia-inducible factors in tumor angiogenesis and cell metabolism.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a main heterodimeric transcription factor that regulates the cellular adaptive response to hypoxia by stimulating the transcription of a series of hypoxia-inducible genes. HIF is frequently upregulated in solid tumors, and the overexpression of HIF can promote tumor progression or aggressiveness by blood vessel architecture and altering cellular metabolism. In this review, we focused on the pivotal role of HIF in tumor angiogenesis and energy metabolism. Furthermore, we also emphasized the possibility of HIF pathway as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.

The potential value of microRNA-4463 in the prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The purpose of this study is to measure the expression of microRNA-4463 and microRNA-6087 between normal persons and patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to clarify the meaning of them in the prognosis evaluation in HCC. Forty-five samples from healthy people and patients, who had been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma before any treatment, were collected to study respectively. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miRNA-4463 and miRNA-6087 in the serum of control group and hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The expression of miR-4463 in the serum of HCC patients was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), and the expression level was independent of gender, tumor size, cell types, stages, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and HBsAg status (P > 0.05). But there was a significant difference of different level of AFP in HCC (P < 0.05), and the difference between the group of AFP lower than 400 ug/l and the control group is statistically significant (P < 0.05). Besides, the survival time had showed a significant difference at the high and low expression levels (P < 0.05). But the expression level of miRNA-6087 was no difference in HCC and control group. The disorder of miRNA-4463 occurred in HCC, even the AFP level doesn't rises. What's more, patients who get the high level of miRNA-4463 seem to have a shorter survival time. And it contributes great to the prognostic evaluation. This is the first study to illustrate the potential significance of miRNA-4463 in the prognosis in HCC.

Bcl-2 overexpression contributes to laryngeal carcinoma cell survival by forming a complex with Hsp90ß.

Laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). However, the molecular mechanism and genetic basis of the development of LC have not been fully elucidated. To explore the possible mechanism, targeted proteomic analysis was performed on Bcl-2-associated proteins from LC cells. According to our results, 35 proteins associated with Bcl-2 were identified and Hsp90ß was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis. Protein­protein interaction (PPI) analysis indicated that Bcl-2­Hsp90ß interactions may be involved in the anti-apoptotic progression of LC. Further results revealed that disruption of the Bcl-2-Hsp90ß interaction inhibited the anti-apoptotic ability of Bcl-2 and decreased the caspase activation in LC, which has broad implications for the better understanding of tumor formation, tumor cell survival and development of metastasis due to Bcl-2. Collectively, we report the mechanism by which Bcl-2 functions in LC as an anti-apoptotic factor in relation to its association with proteins and potentially identify a Bcl-2/Hsp90ß axis as a novel target for LC therapy.

Overexpression of CXCR4 promotes invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer via EGFR and MMP-9.

The aim of the present study was to verify whether overexpression of CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) promotes the invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), and to detect the association between CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9. The effects of overexpression of CXCR4 on lung cancer cell functions were investigated by migration and invasion assays. Western blotting and zymograph assays were used to analyze the protein expression levels of EGFR and the production of MMP-9, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the expression of EGFR, CXCR4 and MMP-9 in NSCLC. Statistical analyses were used to detect the associations among EGFR, CXCR4 and MMP-9 in NSCLC. Finally, survival analyses were performed. CXCR4 overexpression enhanced cell motility and invasion. CXCR4 also promoted expression of EGFR and elevated MMP-9 production. CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9 were highly expressed in NSCLC, and were not identified as associated with age and sex (P>0.05). However, they were associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). CXCR4, EGFR and CXCR4 expression were positively associated with one another in NSCLC (P<0.05). In addition, patients with positive expression of CXCR4, EGFR or MMP-9 in tumors exhibited significantly shorter overall survival compared with those with negative expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, CXCR4 overexpression enhanced cell motility and invasion via EGFR and MMP-9. CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9 were identified as highly expressed in NSCLC, and there was positive correlation among them.

Hypoxia promotes the invasion and metastasis of laryngeal cancer cells via EMT.

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of hypoxia on the invasion and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma. The invasion and migration ability of laryngeal cancer SCC10A cell was detected by transwell assay. Western blot was applied to analyze the expression of EMT-related proteins. Fifty-seven samples from postoperative patients with laryngeal cancer were collected to study. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of GLUT-1 and EMT-related proteins (Vim, E-cad, N-cad) in normal laryngeal squamous epithelial tissue, laryngeal cancer adjacent tissues and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Hypoxia promoted laryngeal cancer cell invasion and migration. Hypoxia also enhanced the expression of GLUT-1, vimentin and N-cad, which exist statistically significant correlation with the clinical staging and lymph node metastases (P < 0.05). The expression of GLUT-1 is positively correlated with Vim and N-cad expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues, but negatively correlated with E-cad expression. The patient survival rate with the positive expression of GLUT-1, Vim and N-cad becomes much shorter compared with those with negative expression of GLUT-1, Vim and N-cad (P < 0.05). Hypoxia promoted laryngeal cancer cell invasion and migration via EMT.

PLGA-Der p1 Vaccine Inhibited Tumor Growth in a Murine Model of Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We undertook this study to investigate the influence of PLGA-Dermatophagoides protein 1 (Der p1) vaccine on the growth of Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells in C57/BL/6 mice. METHODS: After subcutaneous transplantation of LLC, cells were injected into the axilla of C57/BL/6 mice. Five mice received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PLGA-Der p1 vaccine, and another five mice received i.p. injection of PBS or PLGA as control. Body weight of C57/BL/6 mice and tumor growth were measured. Morphological change of tumor was observed under optical microscope. The expression of Ki67 and CD34 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. The concentration of IL-4 and IFN-γ in the splenocyte culture medium was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The growth of transplanted tumor was inhibited markedly by PLGA-Der p1 vaccine. The protein level of Ki67 and CD34 was significantly lower in PLGA-Der p1 vaccine group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The level of IFN-γ of the splenocyte culture medium was significantly higher in PLGA-Der p1 vaccine group than that in the control group (p < 0.05). However, the level of IL-4 in the splenocyte culture medium was obviously lower in PLGA-Der p1 vaccine group than that in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PLGA-Der p1 vaccine has a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of LLC cells in C57/BL/6 mice by inducing the production of a Th1 cytokine profile.

Bom m 9 from Bombyx mori is a novel protein related to asthma.

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) can cause severe IgE-mediated allergic disease, however, the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunologic mechanism by which silkworms induce allergy. Whole silkworm pupa proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and 2-D PAGE. Then, IgE-binding proteins were detected by immunoblotting with sera of patients having an allergy to Bombyx mori. After tryptic digestion, the peptides of IgE-binding proteins were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry or tandem mass spectrometry. Database searches were used to identify allergens in silkworm pupa, after which Bom m 9 was to construct an asthma model. Thus, in the current study, a mouse asthma model was constructed with Bom m 9.

MiR-210 links hypoxia with cell proliferation regulation in human Laryngocarcinoma cancer.

The microRNA hsa-miR-210 (miR-210) is associated with hypoxia; however its function has not fully identified. In the present study, we aim to detect its role concerning proliferation in Laryngocarcinoma. We found that miR-210 was highly expressed in hypoxia, which inhibited proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in G1/G0 as well as apoptosis. We further identified that miR-210 targeted fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 (FGFRL1). Down regulation of FGFRL1 decreased cell proliferation by promoting proportion of cells in G1/G0 phase and decreasing in S and G2/M phases. Moreover, overexpression of FGFRL1 effectively released the miR-210-induced suppression of SCC10A cell proliferation. Expression of miR-210 repressed tumor xenograft growth in vivo as well. Together, our findings reveal a new mechanism of adaptation to hypoxia that miR-210 inhibits the proliferation via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by the targeting of FGFRL1. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1039-1049, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ezrin promotes invasion and migration of the MG63 osteosarcoma cell.

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that ezrin plays an important role in the development of some human malignancies. But the mechanism by which ezrin may affect tumor cell invasion and metastasis remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, the expression of ezrin was verified in osteosarcoma (OS) cells and tissues by comparison with normal bone cells and tissues using Western blotting. OS-MG63 were transfected with pcDNA3.1-ezrin or pGenesil-1/shRNA-ezrin and the stably transfected cells were selected with G418 to yield the ezrin cell line. The OS-MG63 tumor cells were delivered by tail vein to female BALB/c to develop pulmonary metastasis model in vivo. Ezrin was identified as a direct target of miR-183 via a luciferase reporter carrying the 3'-untranslated region of ezrin. Migration assays and invasion assays were done with the transwells. Signaling pathway was studied by Western blotting and/or inhibitor. RESULTS: Ectopic overexpression of ezrin in OS cell line MG63 promoted tumor cell invasion and migration. Consistent with this, knockdown of ezrin inhibited tumor cell invasion and migration. Similar results were obtained in the experimental metastasis model in vivo. We identified ezrin as a direct target of miR-183. What is more, ectopic expression of ezrin could induce the expression of N-cadherin and enhance the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results suggest that ezrin as a direct target of miR-183 promotes the aggressiveness of OS via increased N-cadherin and activating ERK signaling.

Theanine improves the function of dendritic cells via the downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

BACKGROUND: Tumor cells can reduce the number of dendritic cells (DCs) in the tumor environment and cause DC dysfunction through autocrine or paracrine pathways. We sought to measure cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in bombesin-inhibited DCs treated with theanine in vitro and to explore the protection and activation effects of theanine on DCs. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blotting were used to analyze the effects of theanine on COX-2 expression and interleukin (IL)-12/IL-10 secretion of bombesin-treated DCs. RESULTS: DCs acquired an impaired phenotype as a result of bombesin treatment. Theanine increased the expression of mature DC surface molecules. The number of cell apoptosis with the treatment of bombesin and theanine significantly decreased, accounting for 15.9%, compared with 26.1% of cell apoptosis with bombesin. COX-2 expression in bombesin-treated DCs was inhibited by theanine in a dose-dependent manner. Theanine promoted DC secretion of IL-12. IL-12 levels reached (137.4 ± 4.9) pg/ml with theanine at 200 µmol/L. However, theanine inhibited the secretion of IL-10 in a dose-dependent manner. IL-10 levels were only (58.4 ± 6.9) pg/ml with theanine at 200 µmol/L. CONCLUSION: Theanine inhibits the transcription and translation of COX-2 and regulates the balance of IL-10/IL-12 secretion in bombesin-inhibited DCs, leading to the recovery of a state of activation in DCs.