GENETIC POLYMORPHISM IN HUMAN β-DEFENSIN-1 AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE IN HAN POPULATION IN SOUTH OF CHINA

Objective To investigate the correlation between human β-defensin-1 (HBD-1) exon 2 variations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease susceptibility in Han population in south of China. Methods The frequency of polymorphic genotypes of HBD-1 exon 2 (1654G/A) was examined in 120 COPD patients (COPD group) and 108 smokers without COPD (control group) by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The frequencies of polymorphic genotypes in HBD-1 exon 2 in COPD group were G/G 82.50%, G/A 10.83%, and A/A 6.67%. The frequencies of polymorphic genotypes in control group were G/G 95.37%, G/A 3.70%, and A/A 0.93%. It showed significant difference between two groups(P<0.01). The differences in allele frequencies were also significant between two groups (G allele frequency: 87.92% vs 97.22%; A allele frequency: 12.08% vs 2.78%; P<0.01). The G→A mutation rised along with the severity of the COPD. Conclusion The genetic polymorphism in HBD-1 exon 2 gene might be associated with the susceptibility to COPD in Han population of South China.

Association between the interleukin-13 gene and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in southern Chinese Han population： a case-control study

Background Interleukin-13 （IL-13） has been implicated to be responsible for recruitment of inflammatory cells from the blood to the lung,regulation of matrix metalloproteinase and induction of mucin production and secretion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）.We determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and investigated its association with common polymorphisms of IL-13 gene in a case-control study.Methods We genotyped 160 cases and 175 control subjects in a local hospital using Mass-ArrayTM Technology Platform then tested the association of four SNPs in IL-13 （rs1295685,rs1800925,rs1881457,rs20541） with COPD,and then determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and controls.Results Association was found between IL-13 gene SNPs （rs20541 and rs1800925） and an increased risk of COPD.By linkage disequilibrium （LD） analysis,two blocks （rs1881457 and rs1800925; rs20541 and rs1295685） were found.The risk of COPD was found associated with the IL-13 gene polymorphism among southern Chinese Han population.Plasma IL-13 level was increased in COPD patients compared with controls.Conclusions The polymorphism of the IL-13 gene is associated with an increased risk of COPD in southern Chinese Han population.Plasma IL-13 levels were found elevated in patients with COPD.

An increased ratio of Th2/Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma

Background Recent studies have shown that T helper type-2 （Th2） cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma. Methods Twenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin （IL）-10, transforming growth factor （TGF） -βand tL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 （Foxp3） and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels. Conclusions The decline of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4＋CD25＋ Treg cells was associated with the overexpression of Th2 response.

RISK FACTORS OF CT-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS LUNG BIOPSY COMPLICATIONS

Objective To evaluate the complication rate of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy and determine the risk factors for complications. MethodsA retrospective investigation of CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy carried out between 2002 and 2009 was performed. The risk factors for complications were determined by multivariate analysis of variables related to patient demographics, lung lesions, and biopsy procedures. ResultsA total of 281 biopsy procedures were enrolled. The total complication rate was 55.9% with pneumothorax 32.4% (91/281) and bleeding 34.5% (97/281). The risk factors affecting pneumothorax rate were lesion location, lesion depth, and time of pleural pierce; and the risk factors affecting bleeding complications were lesion depth, lesion size, and age. Predictive models for pneumothorax and bleeding were established by logistic regression. The pneumothorax model had a sensitivity of 80.0% with a specificity of 62.4%,and the bleeding model had a sensitivity of 67.4% with a specificity of 88.8%. ConclusionLesion location, lesion depth, and number of pleural passes were independent risk factors for pneumothorax. Lesion size, lesion depth, and age were independent risk factor for bleeding. The predictive models for pneumothorax and bleeding will helpfully reduce the complication of CT-guided lung biopsy.