发酵乳对肝硬化失代偿期患者肠黏膜屏障功能的影响

观察发酵乳在改善肝硬化失代偿期患者肠黏膜屏障功能、肝功能及提高患者生活质量方面的作用。

选择我院78例确诊为肝硬化失代偿期的患者,随机分成对照组和发酵乳组,其中对照组42例,发酵乳组36例。对照组患者给予常规综合治疗,发酵乳组在常规综合治疗的基础上给予口服发酵乳治疗,在治疗前及治疗4周后分别检测并比较两组患者肠黏膜屏障功能、血清白蛋白、血浆氨水平及慢性肝病问卷评分（CLDQ）的变化。

治疗前两组患者肠屏障功能、血清白蛋白、氨水平及CLDQ评分差异无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。治疗4周后,发酵乳组患者血清内毒素、血清二胺氧化酶、D-乳酸及血浆氨水平较治疗前显著降低,较对照组治疗后亦降低（均P＜0.05）。发酵乳组患者血清白蛋白水平及部分CLDQ评分较治疗前显著升高,较对照组治疗后亦升高（均P＜0.05）。

在常规综合治疗的基础上加用发酵乳可调节肝硬化失代偿期患者肠道菌群,改善肠黏膜屏障功能,从而保护肝脏功能,提高患者生活质量。

     

枯草杆菌肠球菌二联活菌胶囊对肝硬化失代偿期患者的临床疗效

目的 观察枯草杆菌肠球菌二联活菌胶囊对肝硬化失代偿期患者的临床疗效。方法 选择2013年6月至2016年6月在湖北医药学院附属人民医院住院治疗的85例肝硬化失代偿期患者为研究对象,随机分为观察组（43例）和对照组（42例）。对照组患者接受肝硬化常规治疗,观察组在对照组基础上加用枯草杆菌肠球菌二联活菌胶囊500 mg/次,3次/d,口服。两组患者疗程均为2个月。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后肝肾功能指标[丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、总胆红素（TBil）、前白蛋白（PA）、血肌酐（sCr）、胱抑素C（CysC）、β2微球蛋白（β2-MG）]、肠黏膜屏障功能指标[血氨、内毒素、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、血清二胺氧化酶（DAO）]、Child-Pugh评分及并发症发生率。结果 治疗后观察组患者ALT、TBil、CysC、β2-MG水平显著下降,PA水平显著升高（P<0.05或P<0.01）,对照组患者治疗后ALT水平也明显下降（P<0.01）,且观察组患者ALT、CysC、β2-MG下降幅度较对照组更大（P<0.05或P<0.01）。两组患者血氨、内毒素、TNF-α和DAO水平较治疗前明显下降（P<0.01）,且观察组患者下降幅度较对照组更大（P<0.01）。观察组患者Child-Pugh评分显著降低（P<0.01）,且其下降幅度较对照组更大（P<0.05）。观察组患者并发症的发生率明显低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论 枯草杆菌肠球菌二联活菌胶囊能有效改善肝硬化失代偿期患者的肝肾功能,修复肠黏膜屏障功能,降低血氨、内毒素、TNF-α和DAO水平,减少并发症的发生。     

Efficacy and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation for decompensated liver cirrhosis: A retrospective cohort study

AIM To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation(SCT) for decompensated liver cirrhosis.METHODS Consecutive patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were included and assigned into the SCT group and non-transplantation(non-SCT) group according to whether they received SCT treatment. Patients werefollowed up for ten years. The long-term survival rate and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) were compared between groups.     

乙型肝炎肝硬化患者外周血单核细胞基因表达谱研究

目的 :探索基因表达谱技术在肝硬化形成的分子生物学机制研究及其诊断方法研究的应用。方法 :应用含 81 92个人体cDNA的微阵列芯片和来自外周血单核细胞的标记cDNA ,分析慢性乙型肝炎、肝炎肝硬化各 1 5例基因表达谱。通过GenePix40 0 0B扫描芯片仪和ImaGene3.0软件分析Cy3、Cy5两种荧光信号的强度和比值。结果 :在 81 92个基因中 ,2组中筛选出有差异的基因 60个 ,占 0 .73% ,其中主要是炎症、凋亡基因、细胞外基质蛋白基因、细胞生长调节基因 ,占 71 .6%。结论 :基因表达谱技术可为乙型肝炎肝硬化形成的分子生物学机制及其诊断研究提供大量有益的生物学信息     

Proteomic and bioinformatics profile of paired human alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes

Little is known about proteomic differences between pluripotent human peripheral blood monocytes (MN) and their terminally‐differentiated pulmonary counterparts, alveolar macrophages (AM). To better characterize these cell populations, we performed a label‐free shotgun proteomics assessment of matched AM and MN preparations from eight healthy volunteers. With an FDR of less than 0.45%, we identified 1754 proteins within AM and 1445 from MN. Comparison of the two proteomes revealed that 1239 of the proteins found in AM were shared with MN, whereas 206 proteins were uniquely identified in MN and 515 were unique to AM. Molecular and cellular functions, protein classes, development associations, and membership in physiological systems and canonical pathways were identified among the detected proteins. Analysis of biologic processes represented by these proteomes indicated that MN were most prominently enriched for proteins involved in cellular movement and immune cell trafficking. In contrast, AM were enriched for proteins involved in protein trafficking, molecular transport, and cellular assembly and organization. These findings provide a baseline proteomic resource for further studies aimed at better understanding of the functional differences between MN and AM in both health and disease.     

Differential effects of human blood monocytes on the growth of human tumour cell lines in vitro

Summary Monocytes and macrophages have been shown to be cytotoxic towards tumour cells in vitro. However, although tumour-associated monocytes and macrophages are now widely accepted to contribute a relatively high proportion of the cellular infiltrate of experimental and human solid carcinomas, a cytotoxic/cytostatic effector function for these cells in vitro or in vivo has yet to be conclusively demonstrated. In the present study, we show that non-activated peripheral blood monocytes co-cultured with tumour cells across a semi-permeable membrane release soluble factors that modulate the growth of tumour cells in contrasting ways. After Nycoprep 1.068 separation, non-activated peripheral blood monocytes enhanced the in vitro proliferation of HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cells but inhibited T47D breast carcinoma cell replication; peripheral blood lymphocytes were incapable of mediating these effects. In contrast, peripheral blood monocytes activated by interferon caused a pronounced inhibition of both HT29 and T47D cell proliferation.     

Use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt combined with autologous bone marrow cell infusion in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis: an exploratory study

Background aimsCurrently, there is no treatment for decompensated liver cirrhosis except for liver transplantation. The safety and effect on liver function of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with and without autologous bone marrow cell (BMC) infusion in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were determined.MethodsTen patients who were diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis during the period from September 2011 to July 2012 were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent TIPS (TIPS group) or combined treatment with TIPS and BMC infusion through the hepatic artery (TIPS+BMC group). All patients were monitored for adverse events, liver function and complications caused by portal hypertension during a period of 52 weeks.ResultsThe number of infused BMCs was 2.65 ± 1.20 ×10⁹. Significant improvements in the serum levels of albumin and total bilirubin and decreased Child-Pugh scores were observed in patients treated with both TIPS and BMCs (P < 0.05), whereas no such changes were observed in the TIPS group. Endoscopic findings showed that varices in the esophagus and the gastric fundus were alleviated after either treatment. All 10 patients showed a complete or partial resolution of ascites at 4 weeks. No major adverse effects were noted during the follow-up period for patients in either group.ConclusionsTIPS combined with BMC infusion is clinically safe; the treatment improved liver function and alleviated complications caused by portal hypertension; therefore, this combination has potential for treatment of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.     

置管溶栓联合自体外周血干细胞移植治疗血栓闭塞性脉管炎

目的观察置管溶栓联合自体外周血干细胞移植治疗血栓闭塞性脉管炎（TAO）的疗效。方法回顾性分析昆明医科大学第四附属医院血管外科2009年4月至2013年4月期间收治的64例TAO患者（68条患肢）,随机均分为两组,其中32例行置管溶栓联合自体外周血干细胞移植术（A组）,32例单纯采用自体外周血干细胞移植术（B组）,采用主观指标包括患肢疼痛、冷感以及客观指标包括跛行距离、踝肱指数、足部溃疡变化、皮温、截肢率进行疗效评价。采用t检验和Х^2检验分析两组疗效指标的差异。结果移植1个月后,两组64例患者（68条患肢）小腿疼痛均不同程度缓解,小腿冷、凉感觉消失;干细胞移植3个月后,A、B组两组间歇性跛行距离[（311.24±124.56）m,220.38±45.53）m,t=6.01,P=0.01],下肢皮温[（30.29±0.42）℃,（29.50±0.46）℃,t=28.05,P=0.00]、ABI（0.64±0.02,0.51±0.02,t=26.00,P=0.00）差异均具有统计学意义。A组中2例（2条患肢）,B组中4例（4条患肢）术后3个月由于小腿中段以下出现坏死导致膝下截肢,截肢率A组为：5.9﹪（2/34）;B组为：11.8﹪（4/34）;所有患者经肿瘤标记物、B超或CTA检查,均未发现恶性肿瘤、视网膜增生、动脉瘤等并发症。结论置管溶栓联合自体外周血干细胞移植治疗TAO是一种可供选择的新的治疗途径。     

Pre-induced adult human peripheral blood mononuclear cells migrate widely into the degenerative retinas of rd1 mice

Background aimsRecent advances in stem cell research have raised the possibility of stem cells repairing or replacing retinal photoreceptor cells that are either dysfunctional or lost in many retinal diseases. Various types of stem cells have been used to replace retinal photoreceptor cells. Recently, peripheral blood stem cells, a small proportion of pluripotent stem cells, have been reported to mainly exist in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).MethodsIn this study, the effects of pre-induced adult human PBMCs (hPBMCs) on the degenerative retinas of rd1 mice were investigated. Freshly isolated adult hPBMCs were pre-induced with the use of the conditioned medium of rat retinas for 4 days and were then labeled with chloromethyl-benzamidodialkylcarbocyanine (CM-DiI) and then transplanted into the subretinal space of the right eye of rd1 mice through a trans-scleral approach. The right eyes were collected 30 days after transplantation. The survival and migration of the transplanted cells in host retinas were investigated by whole-mount retinas, retinal frozen sections and immunofluorescent staining.ResultsAfter subretinal transplantation, pre-induced hPBMCs were able to survive and widely migrate into the retinas of rd1 mice. A few CM-DiI–labeled cells migrated into the inner nuclear layer and the retinal ganglion cell layer. Some transplanted cells in the subretinal space of rd1 host mice expressed the human photoreceptor–specific marker rhodopsin.ConclusionsThis study suggests that pre-induced hPBMCs may be a potential cell source of cell replacement therapy for retinal degenerative diseases.     

Differentiation of human peripheral blood monocytes to macrophages is associated with changes in the cellular respiratory burst activity.

When phagocytic leukocytes, e.g. neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, interact with soluble or particulate stimuli, the cells respond with an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites. This production can be measured with the luminol-amplified chemiluminescence (CL) technique. In the present study, the CL reaction induced in monocyte-derived macrophages was investigated and compared to the responses of neutrophils and monocytes. In systems without additives the CL response of macrophages to soluble stimuli (FMLP, PMA and ionomycin) was very low. Addition of a peroxidase (HRP) to the reaction mixtures resulted in a pronounced increase in CL activity. The cellular CL response in macrophages is thus limited by the amount of peroxidase available. The macrophage response differs qualitatively from the responses of neutrophils and monocytes, in that the intracellular phase of the response is missing.     

不同诱导因子对人外周血单个核细胞P2X7受体表达的作用

ATP激活P2X7受体可产生一系列的白细胞功能反应,因此P2X7受体的表达调控引起我们的兴趣。然而P2X7受体在正常人外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cells,PBMC)、单核细胞中的表达调控机制尚未阐明。本文用半定量RT-PCR方法检测多种细胞因子、细菌抗原、丝裂原对P2X7受体表达的诱导作用,探索P2X7受体的诱导表达模式。结果表明,单个核细胞和单核细胞可检出P2X7受体的表达;白细胞介素2、4、6(interleukin-2、-4、-6,IL-2、IL-4、IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子仪(tumour necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)等细胞因子和金黄色葡萄球菌CowanⅠ株(Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strainⅠ,SAC)、脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)能上调PBMC的P2X7受体表达,而γ干扰素(interferon-γ,IFN-γ)、粒-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,GM-CSF)、巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(macmphage colony-stimulating factor,M-CSF)和植物血凝素(phytohemagglutinin-M,PHA-M)等则没有作用;LPS和M-CSF可以提高单核细胞的P2X7受体表达,IFN-γ、TNF-α、GM-CSF作用较弱,但是这些因子的预处理并不能增强LPS对P2X7受体表达的诱导。炎症因子促进P2X7受体的表达,提示P2X7受体可能在对抗细菌感染的免疫反应中起一定作用,这有待于进一步研究。     

15-Deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 inhibits the expression of proinflammatory genes in human blood monocytes via a PPAR-gamma-independent mechanism

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) has been implicated in inhibition of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible enzymes such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Using real-time RT-PCR the present study investigates the impact of two PPAR-gamma agonists, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) and ciglitazone, on the expression of several proinflammatory genes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human blood monocytes. Stimulation of cells with LPS resulted in a profound induction of the expression of COX-2, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Treatment of cells with 15d-PGJ(2) (10 microM) was associated with a nearly complete inhibition of the expression of all genes that remained unaltered in the presence of the PPAR-gamma antagonist bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE; 100 microM). By contrast, treatment of cells with another potent PPAR-gamma agonist, ciglitazone (50 microM), and the PPAR-alpha agonist WY-14,643 (100 microM) did not suppress LPS-induced expression of the investigated genes. Stimulation of monocytes with LPS resulted in an 88% inhibition of PPAR-gamma mRNA expression that was fully restored by 15d-PGJ(2) but only to a partial extent by ciglitazone and WY-14,643. Again, BADGE did not alter the effect of 15d-PGJ(2). Collectively, our results show that alterations of gene expression by 15d-PGJ(2) in LPS-stimulated human blood monocytes are mediated by PPAR-gamma-independent mechanisms. Moreover, it is concluded that both inhibition of proinflammatory gene expression and restoration of LPS-induced decrease of PPAR-gamma expression may contribute to the biological action of 15d-PGJ(2).     

Calcium transport from blood into the bile in normal and regenerating rat liver

We have studied calcium movement from blood into the bile by injecting 45Ca2+ intravenously and measuring the radioactivity appearing in the bile. 45Ca2+ started to appear in the bile at 3 min and maximum values were observed at 5 min after its administration. The amount of calcium secreted into the bile was proportional to the blood calcium concentration indicating that the main pathway involved in calcium movement behaved as a non-saturable system. We have also studied the 45Ca2+ circulation from blood into the bile in rats subjected to a partial hepatectomy. Thereafter, the calcium transported into the bile per gram of liver increased by about 50 per cent. Since bile flow behaved in a similar way, the biliar calcium concentration remained unmodified after hepatectomy. Determination of the activities of the Ca2+ transporting systems in isolated plasma membrane fractions from regenerating livers showed no modification in these activities suggesting that the elevation in calcium movement observed after hepatectomy is not due to an increase in the circulation of Ca2+ through the transhepatocyte pathway, an observation compatible with the absence of saturation in the transport.     

从实验感染OPPV的山羊外周血单核细胞中分离病毒的研究

用绵羊胎肺细胞与接种绵羊进行性肺炎病毒（OPPV）的山羊外周血单核细胞共同培养的方法可以分离到病毒,这说明OPPV可以感染山羊。用细胞病变观察、间接荧光抗体试验、电镜切片观察和聚合酶链式反应对分离毒进行了鉴定,进一步证实了分离毒为OPPV。分离结果表明这是一种较为敏感的分离方法。绵羊胎肺细胞可传到40多代,且每一代次的细胞都可用于病毒的分离,因此这是一种非常实用的分离OPPV的方法。     

Relationship between the level of serum L-tryptophan and its hepatic uptake and metabolism in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

Summary In the serum of rats with liver cirrhosis induced by 12-week intermittent carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) injection, free L-tryptophan (Trp) levels increased with decreases in total Trp, albumin-bound Trp, and albumin levels. In the serum of the cirrhotic rats, there were no changes in the ratio of albumin-bound Trp to albumin and the level of free fatty acids which are known to weaken the binding of Trp to albumin. In the liver of the cirrhotic rats, there were increases in protein and free Trp (i.e., non-protein Trp) contents and a decrease in total tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) activity. The decreased TDO activity was mainly due to the reduction of apo-TDO activity. When [³H]Trp was injected into the portal vein of the cirrhotic and control rats, radioactivity derived from the injected [³H]Trp in the liver was higher in the cirrhotic rats than in the control rats at 10min after the injection, while the radioactivity in the serum was lower in the former rats than in the latter rats. These results indicate that the increased Trp is easily taken up into the cirrhotic liver, and suggest that the Trp taken up into the cirrhotic liver could be utilized for the maintenance of synthesis of proteins in the tissue through the reduction of Trp metabolism due to reduced TDO activity in the tissue.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme (kininase II) mRNA production and enzymatic activity in human peripheral blood monocytes are induced by GM-CSF but not other cytokines

Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) do not possess angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the inactive state. However, measurable PBM ACE activity is found in patients with certain inflammatory disease. We have examined the effect of cytokines likely to be present during granulomatous inflammation on the regulation of ACE mRNA in PBM. The presence of ACE mRNA in human PBM cultured in vitri with various cytokines for up to 6 days was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. PBM not exposed to cytokines did not express ACE mRNA, while incubation of PBM with recombinant human GM-CSF resulted in high levels of ACE mRNA expression after 72 h of cell culture, which persisted through day six. Increased ACE mRNA expression occurred concommitantly with phenotypic changes in cell size and shape consistent with cell activation. A 5-fold increase in ACE enzymatic activity also occurred. Incubation of PBM with all other cytokines tested failed to induce ACE mRNA expression. Alveolar macrophages expressed ACE mRNA immediately following their isolation, but mRNA expression decreased markedly during a 24-h period of incubation and was only partially reversed with exogenous GM-CSF. We conclude that GM-CSF enhances ACE mRNA levels in human PBM, but not in alveolar macrophages.     

Efficient human iPS cell derivation by a non-integrating plasmid from blood cells with unique epigenetic and gene expression signatures

To identify accessible and permissive human cell types for efficient derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we investigated epigenetic and gene expression signatures of multiple postnatal cell types such as fibroblasts and blood cells. Our analysis suggested that newborn cord blood (CB) and adult peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNCs) display unique signatures that are closer to iPSCs and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) than age-matched fibroblasts to iPSCs/ESCs, thus making blood MNCs an attractive cell choice for the generation of integration-free iPSCs. Using an improved EBNA1/OriP plasmid expressing 5 reprogramming factors, we demonstrated highly efficient reprogramming of briefly cultured blood MNCs. Within 14 days of one-time transfection by one plasmid, up to 1000 iPSC-like colonies per 2 million transfected CB MNCs were generated. The efficiency of deriving iPSCs from adult PB MNCs was approximately 50-fold lower, but could be enhanced by inclusion of a second EBNA1/OriP plasmid for transient expression of additional genes such as SV40 T antigen. The duration of obtaining bona fide iPSC colonies from adult PB MNCs was reduced to half (～14 days) as compared to adult fibroblastic cells (28-30 days). More than 9 human iPSC lines derived from PB or CB blood cells are extensively characterized, including those from PB MNCs of an adult patient with sickle cell disease. They lack V(D)J DNA rearrangements and vector DNA after expansion for 10-12 passages. This facile method of generating integration-free human iPSCs from blood MNCs will accelerate their use in both research and future clinical applications.     

Skewed ratios between CD3(+) T cells and monocytes are associated with poor prognosis in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Tempering of the innate immune response by T lymphocytes has been demonstrated to play a critical role in protecting animals from inflammation-induced death; however, its role in humans remains unknown. Patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) share a striking similarity to the inflammatory response in septic shock where a hyperactive innate response is observed. The present study attempted to characterize the features of CD3⁺ T cells and monocytes and evaluate their clinical implications in 55 patients with HBV-related ACLF, 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 30 healthy controls (HC). We found that the ratio between circulating CD3⁺ T cells and monocytes (T/M) was decreased in ACLF patients, due to decreased CD3 counts and increased monocyte counts compared with CHB and HC subjects. We also found that the T/M ratios were decreased from the early to the intermediate stage and reached the lowest value at the late stage in ACLF patients. Analyses with clinical parameters revealed that T/M ratios were negatively correlated with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score and direct bilirubin, and positively correlated with prothrombin activity. Moreover, increased T/M ratios were observed in patients with good prognosis, but not in patients with a poor outcome; and ACLF patients who received liver transplantation exhibited an increased T/M ratio. Importantly, we found that programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1) was drastically upregulated on both CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cells in ACLF, which at least in part contributed to the T-cell loss in these patients. Mechanically, the in vitro co-culture assay revealed that both CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cells, as well as regulatory T cells, could inhibit TNF-α secretion by monocytes. In addition, the TNF-α levels in ACLF serum were negatively correlated with T/M ratios. In conclusion, our study identified the novel potential role of T/M ratio in predicting disease progression and provided novel evidences for further studies of the immunopathogenesis in ACLF.     

Gene expression alterations of human peripheral blood monocytes induced by medium-term treatment with the TH2-cytokines interleukin-4 and -13

The TH2-cytokines interleukins-4 and -13 severely alter gene expression of monocytic cells. We quantified the impact of interleukins-4 and -13 on the gene expression pattern of human peripheral blood monocytes applying a strategy that involved microarray hybridization, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and activity assays. After 3 days of continuous cytokine exposure the six most strongly upregulated gene products (15-lipoxygenase-1, fibronectin, monoamine oxidase-A, CD1c, CD23A, coagulation factor XIII) included four proteins with potential anti-inflammatory properties: (i) 15-lipoxygenase-1 (290-fold upregulation), (ii) fibronectin (180-fold upregulation), (iii) monoamine oxidase-A (56-fold upregulation) and (iv) coagulation factor XIII (35-fold upregulation). In addition, a number of other gene products, the expression of which is consistent with inflammatory resolution (annexin 1, collagen 1alpha2, laminin alpha5, TIMP3, heme oxygenase-1, CCL22, heat shock protein A8), were upregulated to a lower extent. In contrast, expression of classical pro-inflammatory gene products, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interleukins-1, -6, -8, -18, cyclooxygenase-2, as well as enzymes and receptors of the leukotriene cascade (5-lipoxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase activating protein, leukotriene B(4) receptor, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2) were significantly downregulated. These data suggest that medium-term treatment of human peripheral blood monocytes with interleukins-4/13 alters the gene expression pattern so that the cells might adopt a resolving phenotype.