Th2 cytokines and asthma — Interleukin-9 as a therapeutic target for asthma

Asthma is a complex heritable inflammatory disorder of the airways in which the development of clinical disease depends on environmental exposure. It has been well established that T helper type 2 (T_H2) lymphocytes and their cytokines have an important role in allergic asthma. Interleukin (IL)-9, a member of the T_H2 cytokine family, has recently been implicated as an essential factor in determining mucosal immunity and susceptibility to atopic asthma. In this review we examine the critical experiments and observations that support this hypothesis. We also discuss these results in comparison with the experiments supporting the involvement of other T_H2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13.     

Are we ready to start studies of Th17 cell manipulation as a therapy for cancer?

From a therapeutic perspective, the bourgeoning literature on Th17 cells should allow us to decide whether to rationally pursue the manipulation of Th17 cells in cancer. The purpose of this review is to attempt a synthesis of a number of contradictory conclusions as to the role that these cells are playing in the process of tumourigenesis in order to provide guidance as to whether our current understanding is sufficient to safely pursue Th17-targeted therapy in cancer at this time. Th17 cells are a highly plastic population and the cytokine drivers for Th17 cell generation and skewing will vary between various cancers and importantly between different sites of tumour involvement in any individual patient. The net impact of the pro-angiogenic IL-17 produced not only by Th17 cells but by other cells particularly macrophages and the anti-tumour effects of Th1/Th17 cells will in turn be determined by the complex interplay of diverse chemokines and cytokines in any tumour microenvironment. Th17 cells that fail to home to tumours may be immunosuppressive. The complexity of IL-17 and Th17 dynamics makes easy prediction of the effects of either enhancing or suppressing Th17 cell differentiation in cancer problematic.     

α9β1 integrin-mediated signaling serves as an intrinsic regulator of pathogenic Th17 cell generation

The interaction between matricellular proteins such as tenascin-C (TN-C) and osteopontin (OPN) and integrins has been implicated in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis in which Th17 cells are recognized as primary pathogenic cells. The differentiation of Th17 cells is tightly regulated by cytokines derived from APCs, receiving various signals including TLR stimuli. In this study, we used a collagen-induced arthritis model and found that increased numbers of α(9) integrin-positive conventional dendritic cells and macrophage were detectable in the draining lymph node (dLN) shortly following first immunization, and these cells produced both TN-C and OPN, ligands for α(9) integrin. α(9) integrin-mediated signaling, induced by TN-C and OPN, promoted the production of Th17-related cytokines by conventional dendritic cells and macrophages in synergy with TLR2 and 4 signaling. This led to the Th17 cell differentiation and arthritis development. Moreover, Th17 cells generated under blocking of α(9) integrin-mediated signaling showed low level of CCR6 expression and impaired migration ability toward CCL20. Thus, we have identified α(9) integrin-mediated signaling by TN-C and OPN as a novel intrinsic regulator of pathogenic Th17 cell generation that contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.     

Th1/Th2细胞分化的分子机制

Th1/Th2细胞亚群的分化是不同的细胞因子、抗原及环境等综合因素作用的结果。在细胞因子参与的Th细胞分化中,JAK/STAT信号途径是细胞因子受体转导细胞内信号的一种主要机制。本文主要就Th1/Th2细胞的功能、分化的分子机制及其影响因素作一综述。     

Th1／Th2迁移与支气管哮喘研究进展

支气管哮喘是由多种炎症细胞和细胞组分参与的气道慢性炎症疾病。发病机制尚未明了,但作为一种免疫调节异常性疾病已取得大多学者的共识。支气管哮喘是一种Th1／Th2细胞数量及其功能失衡,主要表现为Th2数量及其功能优势的疾病。     

Th1/Th2细胞在心肌梗死中的作用

Th1/Th2细胞因子平衡对于维持机体的正常免疫状态是重要因素,其平衡的紊乱与很多疾病密切相关,如感染性疾病、自身免疫性疾病、肿瘤、心血管疾病等.在心肌梗死的发生发展过程中存在炎症反应,病变的心肌细胞及其他炎症细胞均可产生大量炎症细胞因子和炎症介质,有研究证实这些细胞因子影响心肌重构.近年来关于Th1/Th2细胞因子的平衡与心血管疾病的关系已成为研究的重点.急性心肌梗死的发作与免疫应答的关系越来越引起人们的关注.本文就Th1/rh2细胞在心肌梗死中的作用做一简要综述.     

乙型肝炎与Th1—Th2细胞失衡的研究进展

根据分泌细胞因子的不同将Ｔｈ细胞分为Ｔｈ０、Ｔｈ１、和Ｔｈ２细胞。Ｔｈ０细胞是Ｔｈ前体细胞,Ｔｈ１细胞促进细胞免疫应答,Ｔｈ２细胞参与体液免疫应答,在感染性疾病中,Ｔｈ１细胞应答抗御感染,Ｔｈ２细胞应答则导致易感。慢性持续性乙型肝炎与Ｔｈ２细胞亚群偏离有关。转基因鼠的研究表明：ＨＢｅＡｇ可选择性诱导Ｔｈ１细胞无反应性,Ｔｈ１－Ｔｈ２细胞亚群失衡受ＴＣＲ－肽－ＭＨＣ复合体及细胞因了环境等多种因素影响     

正确认识Th1—Th2细胞在传染病中的作用

本文对Ｔｈ１及Ｔｈ２细胞在传染病中的作用提出了置疑，认为Ｔｈ１应符保护细胞内寄生病原，Ｔｈ２应答保护细胞外寄生病原体的说法是教条，严重地影响研究的进展。作者认为不应把复杂的免疫学现象简单化。     

An orally active Th1/Th2 balance modulator, M50367, suppresses Th2 differentiation of naïve Th cell in vitro

We previously reported an orally active anti-allergic agent, M50367, modulated Th1/Th2 balance to down-regulate Th2 response in a murine model of atopic asthma. In this study, we examined the effect of M50354, the active metabolite of M50367, on the differentiation of na?ve Th cells into Th1/Th2 cells. M50354 at 3 microM decreased the generation of Th2 cells by 0.2-fold and increased that of Th1 cells by 1.6-fold from na?ve Th cells primed with antigenic peptide and antigen-presenting cells. Its effect was also seen when na?ve Th cells were primed with anti-T cell receptor and anti-CD28 agonistic antibodies instead of antigen and antigen-presenting cells. M50354 decreased early endogenous IL-4 production in the nai;ve Th cell priming culture without affecting interferon-gamma production and proliferation. In contrast, M50354 had no effect on interferon-gamma and IL-4 production from mature Th1 and Th2 cells. These results suggest that M50354 directly acts on na?ve Th cells to suppress their differentiation into Th2 cells.     

Th1、Th2和Th17型细胞在类风湿性关节炎和系统性红斑狼疮中的活化特点

探讨Th1、Th2和Th17型细胞在类风湿性关节炎(RA)和系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)发病机制中的作用。收集37例RA患者、25例SLE患者和34例健康人的抗凝血,应用ELISA检测血清中IFN-γ、IL-10和IL-17的水平。与健康对照组比较,RA和SLE患者血清中IFN-γ的水平均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);SLE患者IL-10水平出现有意义的升高(P<0.05);而RA患者IL-17的升高具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。由此提示Th1、Th2和Th17细胞在自身免疫性疾病中均发挥不同的重要作用。     

幽门螺杆菌感染者Th1/Th2细胞免疫应答变化

目的观察幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)相关性胃病患者血清Th1/Th2细胞因子(干扰素-γ,IFN-γ、白细胞介素-4,IL-4)水平变化,以探讨其在发病中的可能免疫致病机制。方法采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)测定17例慢性浅表性胃炎、15例胃癌前病变和20例胃癌患者血清IFN-γ及IL-4的含量。比较H.pylori阳性3组患者之间、H.pylori阳性与阴性各相应组患者之间血清2种细胞因子的差异。结果 H.pylori阳性的浅表性胃炎组、胃癌前病变组及胃癌组血清IL-4含量随病变的进展有逐渐升高的趋势,但3组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);H.pylori阳性的3组血清IFN-γ含量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);H.pylori阳性与阴性的各相应组血清IFN-γ含量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);H.pylori阳性的胃癌前病变组和胃癌组与H.pylori阴性的相应组血清IL-4含量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);H.pylori阳性的浅表性胃炎组血清IL-4含量较H.pylori阴性的浅表性胃炎组明显降低(P<0.05)。结论 H.pylori感染可能抑制Th2型免疫应答,导致H.pylori感染持续存在;H.pylori感染相关胃部病变进展过程中,可能存在Th1型应答向Th2型应答漂移,与胃癌的发生可能有一定的相关性。     

类风湿关节炎大鼠血清Th1/Th2水平及意义

目的:初步探讨类风湿关节炎大鼠免疫功能紊乱的机制。方法:采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中Th1细胞分泌的细胞因子IFN-γ和Th2细胞分泌的细胞因子IL-4的水平。结果:类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中IFN-γ的水平与正常组相比明显升高(p<0.01),IL-4的水平明显降低(p<0.01)。结论:在类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中Th1/Th2细胞分泌的细胞因子水平存在着明显失衡,两者以Th1细胞分泌细胞因子占优势,这可能与其发病机制密切相关。     

Th1/Th2平衡调节与疾病发生的研究进展

正常情况下,辅助性T淋巴细胞亚群Th1/Th2细胞处于平衡状态,Th1/Th2平衡失调并向Th1或Th2状态转化的趋势称为Th1/Th2的漂移。习惯上把Th1及其细胞因子占优势的状态称为Th1状态,Th2及其细胞因子占优势的状态称为Th2状态。Th1/Th2平衡影响细胞因子网络的平衡,与许多疾病的发生、发展、治疗、转归有密切的关系。现就Th1/Th2平衡与人类相关疾病间的关系及相关研究作一综述。     

Are scared prey as good as dead?

Predators affect prey and their resources by changing the density and traits (e.g. morphology and behavior) of those prey. Ecological studies and models of community dynamics, however, typically only incorporate how changes in prey densities, rather than their traits, affect community dynamics. In a recent meta-analysis, Preisser et al. show that trait effects are as large, if not larger than density effects. This strongly suggests that trait effects should be integrated into empirical and theoretical studies.     

原发性肝癌患者Th1/Th2 亚群研究*

目的:探讨原发性肝癌患者血清中淋巴细胞亚群中Th1/Th2的变化,为分析肝癌的发生发展状症和临床治疗提供免疫学指标。方法:应用放射免疫分析及酶联免疫分析法(ELISA),测定46例肝癌患者,及43例正常对照组进行比较。以IL-2、INF-γ和TNF-α水平代表Th1型细胞因子,以IL-4,IL-6、IL-8、IL-10的水平代表Th2型细胞因子。结果:肝癌患者IL-2、TNF-γ、IL-6的水平明显低正常对照组,P<0.01。IL-4、IL-8、IL-10、TNF-α的水平明显高于正常对照组,P<0.01。结论:肝癌患者体内存在Th1/Th2细胞因子失衡,其中Th1亚群功能抑制,Th2亚群功能亢进,其与肿瘤在宿主体内生长密切相关。通过纠正这些免疫失调将成为肝癌治疗的重要手段。