Influence of Danshen Injection on airway inflammation and CD4^+ CD25^+ regulatory T cells of asthmatic rats

Objective： To investigate the influence of Danshen Injection on airway inflammation and CD4^＋CD25^＋ regulatory T cells（CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tr） of asthmatic rats, and elucidate the possible mechanism of Danshen Injection in treatment of asthma. Methods： 30 Wister rats were randomly divided into control group, asthma group and Danshen Injection treated group. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids （BALF） were collected, and cytology studies were conducted. Lung tissues were obtained and pathologic analyses were done with hematoxylin and eosin stain （HE）. Flow cytometry was used to detect the CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tr ratio in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs）. Results： Total cell, the percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils （Eos） in BALF of Danshen Injection-treated group were lower than that in asthma group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Compared with asthma group, less infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissues was observed in Danshen Injection-treated group. CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tr of asthma group was lower than that of control and Danshen Injection treated group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Danshen Injection can suppress airway inflammation of asthmatic rats, probably by increasing the number of CD4^＋CD25^＋ Tr.

The expression of CD40 and CD40L on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in asthmatic rats and the effect of anti-CD40L McAb on Th1 and Th2 cytokines

Objective： To investigate the expression of CD40 and CD40 ligand （CD4OL） on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells（PBMCs） in asthmatic rats and the effect of anti-CD40L McAb on cytokines of PBMCs. Methods： Flow cytometry and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of CD40 and CD40L of PBMCs in asthmatic rats. After the PBMCs was treated with anti-CD40L McAb, ELISA was used to detect the IL-4 and IFN-γ levels of culture supernatants. Results： Compared with the normal control group, the expression of CD40 and CD40L of PBMCs in asthmatic rats increased （P 〈 0.05）. Compared with the untreated group, the level of IL-γ and the ratio of IL-4/IFN-γ decreased after the PBMCs was treated with anti-CD40L McAb（P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The expression of CD40 and CD40L on the surface of PBMCs in asthmatic rats was up-regulated. Anti-CD40L McAb can rectify the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines.

Tim-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from asthmatic patients

The study aimed to detect the expression of the Th1-specific cell surface protein T cell Ig and mucin domain-containing molecule-3(Tim-3)mRNA peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from asthmaticin patients and to examine the correlation among Tim-3 mRNA,interleukin-4(IL-4),interferon-γ(IFN-γ)level,and FEV1/FVC(force expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity)to explore the role of Tim-3 in the development and progression of asthmatic inflammation.Tim-3 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The IL-4 and IFN-γlevels were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The correlation among Tim-3 mRNA,IL-4,IFN-γlevel,and pulmonary ventilatory capacity was analyzed.The expres-sion of Tim-3 mRNA in patients with acute asthma exacerbation was 0.39�0.06,significantly higher than that in patients at the remission stage and controls(0.18�0.05 and 0.07�0.03,P<0.05).The level of IL-4 in patients with acute asthma exacerbation was 68.42�10.54,significantly higher than that in the patients at the remission stage and controls(41.83�9.37 and 32.75�8.16,P<0.05).The level of IL-4 in patients in remission was significantly higher than that in controls(P<0.05).The level of IFN-γin patients with acute asthma exacerbation was 65.74�7.85,significantly lower than that in patients in remission and the control group(120.84�11.62 and 139.65�13.47,P<0.05).The level of IFN-γin patients in asthma remission was significantly lower than that in controls(P<0.05).Tim-3 mRNA expression was positively correlated with the level of IL-4(r=0.68,P<0.05)and negatively with the level of IFN-γand pulmonary ventilatory capacity(r=–0.85,r=–0.76,both P<0.01).The increased expression of Tim-3 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes might be involved in the development and progression of asthmatic inflammation.

Expression of Syk in non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters

This study aims to research the expression of spleen tyrosine kinase(Syk)in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and the relationship between Syk and clinico-pathologic factors and p53.Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of Syk and p53 protein in 39 cases of NSCLC(23 cases of lung squamous cell can-cer,16 cases of lung adenocarcinoma)and tumor-sur-rounding normal lung tissues.The positive rate of Syk was 46.15%(18/39)and 100%(39/39)in NSCLC and tumor-surrounding normal lung tissues,respectively.The expres-sion level of Syk in NSCLC was significantly lower than that in tumor-surrounding normal lung tissues(P=0.000).The Syk expression was positively correlated with the p53 expression in NSCLC specimens(P=0.025).There was no significant association between Syk expression and lymph node metastasis,differentiation degree,tumor size and tumor node metastasis(TNM).The present study demonstrated that Syk was aberrantly expressed in the NSCLC and might have a significant impact on tumor growth and progression.