ObjectiveTo find out an effective method for amplification and purification of dendritic cells(DC) from peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells were purified from peripheral blood of health volunteers(control group,10 cases) and patients with pancreatic carcinoma (experimental group,12 cases) with incubation of granulocyte/macrophage colonystimulating factor(GMCSF) and interleukin4(IL4).The quality of DC were detected by immumofluorescence method and the expression levels of HLADR and B72 on DC were detected by flow cytometer after and before DC incubation with GMCSF and the IL4. ResultsThe expression level of HLADR and B72 of DC in experimental group were significantly less than those in control group(P＜0.01).DC in experimental group was significantly proliferated in the presence of GMCSF and IL4(P＜0.01).On day 7,the expression level of HLADR and B72 of DC in experimental group were significantly increased(P＜0.01) and there was no difference versus control group(Pgt;0.05).ConclusionIt is suggested that combination of GMCSF and IL4 can selectively and effectively enhance proliferation and immune function of DC from peripheral blood of patient with pancreatic carcinoma.
Objective To investigate the impacts of cytokines （interleukin-4，IL-4；tumor necrosis factor-α，TNF-α） and medications of bronchial asthma （dexamethasone，aminophylline，salbutamol） on the activity of histamine N-methyltransferase（HMT） in tracheal epithelial cells.Methods BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells were cultured and treated with different concentration of TNF-α, IL-4, dexamethasone, salbutamol and aminophylline respectively. The activity of HMT in BEAS-2B cells was determined by high performance liquid chromatography.Results The activity of HMT in tracheal epithelial cells was (50±7) pmol?min-1?mg pro-1.TNF-α and IL-4 lowered the activity of HMT significantly at the concentration equal to or higher than 1 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL respectively，and reached the maximum inhibitory effect at the level of 10 ng/mL.Dexamethasone and aminophylline could ameliorate distinctly the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on the activity of HMT, while salbutamol had no significant inhibitory effect.Conclusions TNF-α and IL-4 exert the lowering effect on the activity of HMT，which would be one important cause of airway hyperreactivity.Glucocorticoids and theophyllines are administered to treat asthma partly due to its relieving mechanism of TNF-α negative effects on HMT.
Objective To examine the levels of nitrite /nitrate( NO2 /NO3 ) , IL-4 and IFN-γin exhaled breath condensates( EBCs) in patients with asthma, and to investigate the effect of corticosteroid treatment. Methods Forty patients diagnosed as mild to moderate asthma were recruited. Among them, twenty were newly diagnosed and steroid naive( non-treatment group) . The other 20 patients had been treated with corticosteroid treatment( treatment group) . Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled as normal control.EBC samples were taken for measurement of NO2 /NO3, IL-4 and IFN-γlevels. Serum IL-4 and IFN-γ concentrations were also measured. Results NO2 /NO3 level in EBC of the non-treatment group was significantly higher than that of the normal controls and the treatment group[ ( 48. 55 ±27. 37) μmol / L vs( 24. 51 ±18. 22) μmol /L, ( 36. 06 ±25. 13) μmol /L, respectively, both P lt; 0. 05] , and no significant difference was found between the treatment group and the normal controls( P gt;0. 05) . The IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in both EBC and serum had no significant difference between the three groups ( all P gt; 0. 05) . Conclusion NO2 /NO3 in EBCs increases in asthmatic patients, and decreases after corticosteroid treatment. Whether IL-4 and IFN-γlevels can be used for reflecting airway inflammation need further study.
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of immunoglobulin (Ig)on celluar immune function of postoperative infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). MethodsForty infants who underwent surgical repair of CCHD in Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province from March to December 2012 were enrolled in this study. All the patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Patients in Ig group received intravenous Ig treatment at the dosage of 1g/ (kg·day)for 2 days postoperatively in addition to routine therapy. Patients in the control group only received routine therapy without Ig treatment. Five ml venous blood samples of all the patients were taken preoperatively, 0.5 hour and 2 days postoperatively to examine serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ)and interleukin-4 (IL-4)with double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThere was no statistical difference in serum levels of IL-4 or IFN-γ preoperatively and at 0.5 hour postoperatively between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ at 0.5 hour postoperatively were significantly higher than preoperative levels in the 2 groups respectively (P=0.000). Serum IL-4 level of Ig group 2 days postoperatively was not statistically different from preoperative level (P=0.362), while serum IL-4 level of the control group 2 days postoperatively was significantly higher than preoperative level (P=0.006). Two days after the operation, serum levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ of Ig group were significantly lower than those of the control group respectively (P=0.039 and 0.007 respectively). Compared with serum levels at 0.5 hour postoperatively in the control group, serum IL-4 level at 2 days postoperatively decreased by 20.08% (P=0.001), and serum IFN-γ increased by 17.80% (P=0.001). Compared with serum levels at 0.5 hour postoperatively in Ig group, serum IL-4 level at 2 days postoperatively decreased by 35.38% (P=0.000), and serum IFN-γ only increased by 7.60% (P=0.143). ConclusionCellular immune function disorder caused by the operation and cardiopulmonary bypass can be effectively improved by postoperative intravenous Ig administration, which may help to reduce postoperative complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and T help cells (Th) in peripheral blood of patients with asthma.MethodsForty-one asthma patients were divided into an acute group (20 cases) and a chronic group (21 cases) according to the disease state of asthma. Another 18 healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all the subjects at admission or inclusion. The concentrations of PD-1, IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay method. The expressions of Th1 and Th2 were detected by flow cytometry method.ResultsThe PD-1 and IFN-γ concentrations, Th1 proportion and Th1/Th2 ratio in the two asthma groups were reduced compared with the healthy control group, and were significantly lower in the acute group compared with the chronic group (all P<0.05). The IL-4 level and Th2 proportion in the two asthma groups were increased compared with the healthy control group, and were significantly higher in the acute group than the chronic group (allP<0.05). In the acute group, the PD-1 level was positively correlated with IFN-γ and Th1 level (r values were 0.678 and 0.712, respectively), and negatively correlated with IL-4 and Th2 (r values were –0.745 and –0.700, respectively).ConclusionThe concentration of PD-1 in patients with asthma is reduced especially in acute asthma, and shows close correlation with conventional index of asthma.