EFFECTS OF ACUMOXI ON IL2-IFN-NKC IMMUNOREGULATORY NETWORK AND ITS RELATED MACROPHAGE-IL1-Th NETWORK AND ON TUMOR——Observation on the Effect of Acumoxi on the Macrophage-IL1-Th Network and on the Metastasis of Hepatoma

Objective: To observe the effect of acumoxi (acupuncture and moxibustion) on macrophage (Mφ)-lL1-Th net-work and hydroperitoneum hepatoma (H 22) metastasis in mice. Methods: A total of 36 BALB/ c male mice bearing H 22 are randomly divided into control, acupuncture and acumoxi groups with 12 cases in each group. In the later 2 groups, Dazhui (GV 14) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are punctured once daily, continuously for 18 days, and in acumoxi group, the two acupoints were also moxibustioned alternatively with moxa stick once every day. After killing the mice, the tissue samples of the 3 groups are treated routinely step by step and analyzed by means of colorimetric analysis for determining the phagocytic function of the macrophages; and the content of IL1 of the Mφ supernatant is assayed with serum plate agglutination (SPA)-Ig floral hoop method of T helper cell (Th) monoclonal antibody; the weight of the reniportal lymph node, the kidney and the lung, and the number of the cancerous nodes on the pulmonary surface are calculated. Results: After acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, the immunoregulatory network indices of acumoxi group increase obviously compared with those of control group(P<0.01), showing an anti-metastasis effect of acumoxi on H 22. Conclusion: Results of the present study and those of our former research prove that acupuncture and moxibustion can suppress the tumor growth and H 22 metastasis by the enhancement of the immunoregulatory network.

Bronchial inflammatory profile in interferon-gamma-mediated immune response in asthma patients during airway response to cold stimulus

Objective:To evaluate the inflammatory pattern and the interferon(IFN)-γin the bronchial secretion of asthma patients in response to acute cold bronchoprovocation.Material and methods:We enrolled 42 patients with asthma.We assessed asthma by Asthma Control Test,the lung function by spirometry before and after the bronchodilator test,followed by collecting induced sputum.The next day,we collected exhaled breath condensate(EBC)and conducted a 3-minute isocapnic hyperventilation with cold air(IHCA),followed by collecting spontaneously produced sputum.Results:Group 1 included 20 patients with cold airway hyperresponsiveness(CAHR),and group 2 included 22 patients without CAHR.In both groups,a high level of neutrophils in bronchial secretion was observed before and after IHCA.In response to IHCA,the number of epitheliocytes in the sputum decreased to a greater extent in patients of group 1.The baseline epitheliocytes and the concentration of IFN-γafter IHCA had an inverse relationship(r=-0.60;P=0.017).The baseline IFN-γin EBC before and after IHCA was lower in group 1.Airway response to cold exposure directly correlated with IFN-γlevels after IHCA(Rs=0.42;P=0.014).Conclusion:In asthma patients with CAHR,there is a relationship between the persistence of mixed inflammation and the level of IFN-γin the bronchi.IFN-γin response to IHCA is decreased with increased cytokine utilization during cold bronchospasm,which is accompanied by the mobilization of neutrophils and the shift in the cytokine spectrum of the respiratory tract towards the T helper cells(Th)1 immune response.

Impairment of ghrelin synthesis in Helicobacter pyloricolonized stomach:New clues for the pathogenesis of H.pylori-related gastric inflammation

Ghrelin,the ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a,takes part in several functions of the digestive system,including regulation of appetite,energy homeostasis,gastric acid secretion and motility.Ghrelin has also immunoregulatory properties and is supposed to inhibit some inflammatory pathways that can mediate gastric damage.Interestingly,ghrelin synthesis is reduced in the gastric mucosa of patients with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection,a worldwide condition inducing a T helper(Th)1/Th17 cell responsedriven gastritis,which may evolve towards gastric atrophy and cancer.In this article,we review the available data on the expression of ghrelin in H.pylori infection and discuss how the defective ghrelin synthesis may contribute to sustain the ongoing inflammatory response in this disease.

Early Changes in Circulatory T Helper Type 1, 2, and 17 Cells of Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest after Successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Background： Immune disorder is an important feature of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest （OHCA） after the return of spontaneous circulation （ROSC）. We investigated the expression of circulatory T helper type （Th）1, Th2, and Th 17 cells to explore the early immune alteration in OHCA patients after ROSC. Methods： During July-September 2016 and March-September 2017, 65 consecutive OHCA patients with ROSC 〉 12 h and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Clinical and 28-day survival data were collected. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed to evaluate the expression of Th1/Th2/Th 17 cells by flow cytometry from OHCA patients after ROSC on days l and 3 and from healthy individuals. Results： Compared with healthy individuals, T lymphocyte counts and Thl cell counts decreased on days 1 and 3 after ROSC （1464 [1198, 2152] vs. 779 [481, 1140] vs. 581 [324, 1118/μl,χ^2= 30.342, P 〈 0.001; 154 [90, 246] vs. 39 [19, 78] vs. 24 [12, 53]μl, χ^2 = 42.880, P〈 0.001）, and Th2 and Th17 cell counts decreased on day 3 （17.0 [10.8, 24.0] vs. 9.0 [3.0, 15.5]μl, Z= -3.228, P= 0.001; 4.7 [2.7, 9.1] vs. 2.7 [1.0, 6.5]μl, Z = -2.294, P = 0.022）. No change in CD4＋/CD3＋ lymphocyte ratio was seen on day 1 or day 3 （57.9 [49.4, 63.0] vs. 55.4 [46.5, 66.5] vs. 55.4 [50.2, 67.0]%, χ^2 = 0.171, P = 0.918）. Th1/CD4＋ lymphocyte ratio decreased on days 1 and 3 （19.0 [14.0, 24.9] vs. 9.3 [4.6, 13.9] vs. 9.5 [4.9, 13.6]%, χ^2= 25.754, P 〈 0.001）, and Th2/CD4＋ lymphocyte ratio increased on day 1 and decreased on day 3 （1.9 [1.2, 2.5] vs. 2.5 [1.6, 4.0] vs. 1.9 [1.6, 3.81%,χ^2= 6.913, P = 0.032）. Thl/Th2 cell ratio also decreased on both clays （9.4 [7.3, 13.5] vs. 3.1 [1.9, 5.6] vs. 4.2 [2.8, 5.9], χ^2 = 44.262, P 〈 0.001 ）. Despite an upward trend in the median of Th 17/CD4＋ lymphocyte ratio in OHCA patients, there was no significant difference compared with healthy individuals （0.9 [0.4, 1.2] vs. 0.7 [0.4, 1.2] vs. 0.6 [0.3, 1.01%, χ^2= 2.620, P = 0.270）. The dynamic expression of Th1/Th2/Th 17 cells on days 1 and 3 were simultaneously analyzed in 28/53 OHCA patients who survived 〉3 days; patients were divided into survivors （n = 10） and nonsurvivors （n = 18） based on 28-day survival. No significant differences in Th1/Th2/Th 17 cell counts, ratios in CD4＋ lymphocytes, and Th1/Th2 cell ratio were seen between survivors and nonsurvivors on both days （all P 〉 0.05）. There was no difference over time in both survivors and nonsurvivors （all P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Downregulated T lymphocyte counts, including Th1/Th2/Th17 subsets and Th1/Th2 cell ratio imbalance, occur in the early period after ROSC, that may be involved in immune dysfunction in OHCA patients.