Objective To investigate the changes of stem cell factor（SCF） level in serum of asthma patients before and after acute exacerbation.Methods The serum SCF was detected in 30 asthma patients respectively in the onset period and catabasis by ELISA.The SCF levels were also determined in 20 normal subjects as control.Results the content of serum SCF of the asthma patients during the acute attack was increased significantly than normal subjects [（156.8±82.6）pmol/L vs （61.5±15.4）pmol/L，Plt;0.001]，and decreased significantly in remission [（66.2±15.8）pmol/L，Plt;0.001].Conclusions SCF may participate in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Objective To investigate the role of T helper 17 ( Th17) cells and CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+regulatory T cells ( Treg) in the pathogenesis of asthma in a mouse model. Methods Twenty-four BALB/ c mice were randomly divided into an asthma group and a normal control group, with 12 mice in each group.Asthma model was established by ovalbumin sensitization and aerosol challenge in the asthma group. Airway reactivity was measured by plethysmography. The total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were measured. The ratio of Th17 and Treg cells to mononuclear cells in the spleens of mice were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in BALF and lung homogenates were measured by ELISA. Results The bronchial provocation test showed that the average lung resistance increased remarkably in the asthma group. In spleens of the asthmatic mice, the percentage of Th17 cells was significantly higher [ ( 5.68 ±1. 99)% vs ( 2.80 ±0. 82) %, P lt; 0. 01] , and the percentage of Treg cells was significantly lower [ (2.88 ±0. 46) % vs ( 6.10 ±2.44) % , Plt; 0. 01] , with the ratio of Th17 to Treg significantly increased( 1. 93 ±0. 41 vs 0. 50 ±0. 15,P lt;0. 01) . In BALF and lung homogenates of the asthma group, the level of IL-17 was significantly higher[ ( 22. 37 ±3. 00) pg/mL vs ( 11. 42 ±2. 15) pg/mL, ( 52. 93 ±5. 39) pg/mL vs ( 19. 38 ±2. 65) pg/mL, both Plt; 0. 01] , and the level of IL-10 was significantly lower[ ( 6. 05 ±1. 25) pg/mL vs ( 14. 23 ±2. 94) pg/mL, ( 9. 33 ±1. 79) pg/mL vs ( 21. 40 ±2. 44) pg/mL, both P lt; 0. 01] compared with the control group.Conclusion The imbalance of Th17/ Treg plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Objective To establish a beta 2 adrenergic receptor ( β2 R) down-regulative asthmatic model, to explore the mechanism of β2 R down-regulation and effectiveness of corticosteroids. Methods Thirty-two BALB/c mice were divided into four groups, ie. a control group, an asthmatic group, a β2R downregulative group, and a dexamethasone group. The asthmatic group, the β2 R down-regulative group and the dexamethasone group were sensitized on 0th, 14th and 21th day by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin ( OVA) together with aluminumhydroxide in a total volume of 200 μL. Fromthe 28th day on, the mice were challenged with an aerosol of 1% OVA( W/V) in saline using an ultrasonic nebulizer 30 min/d for a week.The β2 R down-regulative group and the dexamethasone group underwent the same procedure as the asthmatic group besides daily intraperitoneal injection of 60 μg salbutamol and inhaling an aerosol of 0. 01%salbutamol 30 min/d for a week half an hour before challenged with OVA. The dexamethasone group was injected dexamethasone 5 mg·kg- 1·d - 1 for a week by intraperitoneal injection on the basis of OVA challenge and salbutamol intervention. The control group was sensitized and challenged with PBS. Airway resistance was measured by plethysmography. IL-4 and IFN-γlevels in BALF, and total IgE concentration in serum were measured by ELISA. Total and differential cell counts in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid ( BALF)were measured. Total amount and number of β2 R in lung tissue were evaluated by immune blotting analysis and radioligand receptor binding assay, respectively. Results Compared to the control group and the dexamethasone group, airway resistance of the asthmatic group and the β2 R down-regulative group increasedobviously provocated by a high dose of acetylcholine ( P lt;0. 01) . Eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte counts in BALF, IL-4 level in BALF, and total IgE in serumincreased significantly also ( P lt;0. 01) , while IFN-γin BALF decreased significantly. Compared to the control group, the asthmatic group and the dexamethasonegroup, the total amount and number of β2 R significantly decreased in the β2 R down-regulative group ( P lt;0. 01) , while no significant difference was found among the control group, the asthmatic group and the dexamethasone group. Conclusions β2 R down-regulative asthmatic model can be successfully establishedby peritoneal injection and inhalation of salbutamol on the basis of OVA sensitization and challenge.Dexamethasone can prevent the down-regulation of β2 R.
【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the effects of respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV) infection on the dynamic changes of airway hyperresponsiveness ( AHR) in ovalbumin ( OVA) -induced asthma in mice.Methods 60 BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into PBS control group ( A group, n = 6) , OVA group, OVA/RSV group, dexamethasone group ( D group, n =6) . Kinetics of AHR of OVA group mice was carried out on day 21, 25, 29 and 33 ( B1, B2, B3, B4 groups, n =6) , and the same with the OVA /RSV group( C1, C2, C3, C4 groups, n = 6 ) . The mouse asthma model was established by OVA-sensitization of intraperitoneal injection and repeated inhalation of OVA while the mice in OVA/RSV group were treated with combined intranasal inoculation with RSV ( 1. 0 ×106 pfu/mL in 50 μL) . Airway resistance of expiringphase ( RL ) and compliance of throax and lung ( CTL ) with different doses of acetylcholine ( Ach) were measured. Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin ( HE) and periodic acid-Schiff ( PAS) for general morphology. Results Compared with B1 group, RL increased and CTL decreased in C1 group when Ach dose is above 5 g/L ( P lt; 0. 05, respectively) , and the effects prolonged ( 6 d, 10 d after challenge with OVA, respectively) much more than B1 group ( 2 d after challenge with OVA) . Compared with C1 group, RL decreased and CTL increased in D group and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was obviously alleviated in C1 group after treatment with dexamethasone. Conclusions Airway hyperresponsiveness increases obviously in OVA-sensitized and RSV-infected mice. The prolonged increase inRL and decrease in CTL ( 6 d, 10 d, respectively) may imply that RSV infection aggravates airway inflammation. The small airway inflammation may play a critical role in the persistence of airway hyperresponsiveness.
0bjective To evaluate the efficacy of FEV6 and FEV1／FEV6 as surrogates for FVC and FEV1／FVC in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction，and to determine the fixed cut-off point of FEV1／FEV6 which can be used as an alternative for FEV1／FVC lt; 70％.Methods Spirometry measurements were perform ed in 128 participants．FEV1，FEV6，FVC，FEV1％pred，FVC％pred，FEV1／FVC and FEV1／FEV6 were measured and analyzed.FEV1／FVClt;70％ was used as the“gold standard”。Severity of obstruction was based on FEV ％ pred．From ROC curve analysis，the FEV1／FEV6 ratio，which corresponded to optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity，was determined．Correlation between FEV1／FVC and FEV1／FEV6 was studied．Results Of 128 participants，there were 65(51％)with FEV1／FVC ≥70％ ．Of the 63 participants with FEV1／FVC lt;70％ ，there were 5 with FEV1／FEV6 between 70.09％ to 71％。There was no significant difference between the mean value of FVC and that of FEV ．Lifear correlation was revealed between FEV1／FVC and FEV1／FEV6 with the value close to 1(r=0.9979，Plt;0.0001)．From ROC curve analysis，the FEV1／FEV6lt;71.14％ was the best cut-off point coresponding to FEV1／FVC lt;70％ ．Conclusion These results suggest that FEV1／FEV6 is a valid alternative to FEV1／FVC for spirometric diagnosis of airw ay obstruction．There is a b corelation between FEV1／FEV6 and FEV1／FVC．
ObjectiveTo survey the current asthma impact on quality of life and related factors in China. MethodsTwo thousand and thirty-four asthmatic patients, from bronchial asthma prevalence epidemiology survey in the population over 14 years old in 8 areas of China from 2009 to 2013, were enrolled. The data about medical resource use, control status and quality of life were collected by detailed questionnaire and analysed using the Epidata database and SAS 9.2 software. ResultsOut of the 2034 asthma patients, 1213 patients (59.6%) reported that their activities including entertainment, learning, fertility and employment were limited due to asthma. In the four aspects of entertainment, education, family and employment, 688 patients (33.8%) had one limited activity in one aspect, 165 patients (8.19%) had most of activities limited in one aspect, 246 patients (12.1%) had limited activities in two or three aspects, 114 patients (5.6%) had limited activities in all aspects. One hundred and eighty-one patients (8.9%) needed help in daily life, such as cooking, shopping, doing housework. Seventy-one patients (3.5%) even needed help in eating, personal hygiene, toilet, and their daily activities were remarkably restricted. Eighty-one patients (4.0%) had motive of suicide. Aging, comorbidity, and medication use were the most important factors. ConclusionAsthma has a significant negative effects on the life and emotion of patients, and proper control of comorbidity and regular treatment of asthma are effective ways to improve the life and emotional state of patients with asthma.