Expression of Surface Markers on Mature Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells from Allergic Asthmatics

Dendritic cells (DCs) are one type of important inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of asthma for early response to allergen exposure. Monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) are characterized by a high antigen uptake capacity and poor T-cell stimulatory activity, both features of immature DCs. By stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or antigen capture, these cells differentiate into mature DCs with the disappearance of antigen-capturing regions, and increase in stimulatory activity. We measured the expression of some molecules on MoDCs before and after stimulation with TNF-alpha or house dust mite (HDM) antigen, from 9 house dust mite (HDM)-allergic asthmatic patients and 8 normal control subjects by flow cytometry. Primary MoDCs from HDM-allergic asthmatics showed a greater expression of histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and mannose receptor (MR), but not of CD80, CD86 or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), than those from normal subjects (P < 0.05). After stimulation with TNF-alpha or HDM, DCs from asthmatic patients showed a greater expression of HLA-DR, CD86 and ICAM-1, than those from normal subjects. In HDM-allergic asthmatic patients, MR expression on DCs significantly declined after stimulation by HDM compared with stimulation by TNF-alpha (P < 0.05). Results suggest that the reduction of MR expression may be characteristic on mature DCs after HDM exposure in allergic asthma

Effect of a Nitric Oxide Donor on Intracellular Cytokine Production in Normal Human Peripheral Lymphocytes

It has been recently suggested that nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in modulating immune responses including helper T (Th) cell differentiation. To investigate the effect of NO on cytokine production in T cells, we examined in vitro the percentage of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 producing cells by the intracellular cytokine staining method with flow cytometry. The percentage of IFN-γ and IL-4 producing cells reached maximal value 8 h after stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. When an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was co-incubated with PMA and ionomycin for 8 h, nitrite levels increased in a dose dependent manner for SNP (P = 0.007; Friedman test). The percentage of IFN-γ producing cells was diminished in consequence of the increasing doses of SNP (P = 0.002; Friedman test). While the percentage of IL-4 producing cells tended to be diminished by SNP, this difference, however, was statistically not significant (P = 0.062; Friedman test). Therefore, we have suggested that NO might affect Th cell differentiation through inhibition of Th1-cytokine production and might cause a Th2 cell predominant state

An Inhibitory Effect of Dexamethasone on A549 Cell Adhesion to Neutrophils: Possible Involvement of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B

In order to clarify the effects of dexamethasone on epithelial cells at the transcription factor level, protein synthesis level and functional level, we examined neutrophil adhesion to A549 cells (an immortalized human type II alveolar epithelial cell line), expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) into nuclei. The intranuclear localization of fluorescently stained NF-κB and an adhesion assay between neutrophils and A549 cells was analyzed quantitatively using laser scanning cytometry. ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells was measured by flow cytometric analysis. Stimulation of A549 cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in their adhesiveness for neutrophils. ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells after stimulation with TNF-α for 12 h was significantly up-regulated, compared with unstimulated cells (P< 0.05). Intranuclear NF-κB was induced 10 min after stimulation with TNF-α and was increased in a TNF-α-dose-dependent manner. Dexamethasone suppressed TNF-α-induced NF-κB translocation in A549 cells by approximately 60%, ICAM-1 expression on A549 cells by approximately 40%, and A549 adhesiveness for neutrophils completely. Therefore, we suggest that the inhibition of A549 adhesiveness for neutrophils by dexamethasone may be due in part to the suppression of NF-κB entry into nuclei and ICAM-1 expression in A549 cells

Alveolar Epithelial Cell Line, A549 Cells Inhibit Neutrophil Apoptosis

Though cellular localization at the site of an inflammatory challenge is the critical first step in a neutrophil response, little has been known about the effects of alveolar epithelial cells on the dynamics of neutrophils. To investigate these effects, we used human purified neutrophils incubated with monolayers of human alveolar epithelial cells (A549), quiescent or preactivated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α for 24 h. Laser scanning cytometry (LSC) was employed to detect nuclear morphological changes and quantitate DNA strand breaks in neutrophils. The experiments revealed that A549 cells inhibited neutrophil apoptosis, and that this inhibitory effect was enhanced when the A549 cells were preactivated with TNF-α for 24 h. These results suggest that alveolar epithelial cells may be potentially able to contribute to promote inflammatory mechanisms by delaying neutrophil apoptosis

コソダテ シエン ニ オケル ヒロバ キノウ ニ カンスル イチ コウサツ コドモ ガクブ カイセツ ソウゴウ フクシ ウラワ ロンソウ トウゴウ キネンゴウ

従来、少子化対策の一環としてすすめられてきた子育て支援策は、仕事と家庭の両立支援から、親が就労しているか否かにかかわらず、すべての家庭を視野に入れた支援へと転換してきた。とくに全国各地にさまざまな形態で拡がりを見せる「子育てひろば」は予防的視点をもったひろば型支援として注目されている。2007年10月、本学の学内に学部教育と地域の子育て支援を融合させる実践の場として、親子のひろば「ぽっけ」を開設したのを機に、子育て支援における「ひろば」の機能と役割について考察を試みる。The aid package of supporting function for parenting families has been carried on conventionally as unti-declining birth rate measure and for the compatibility of work with child care. But it changed over to support from the viewpoint of including all parenting families whether the parents set to work or not. Especially the drop in centers which expand over the country in various formation attract attention as a model of drop in support with preventive viewpoint. Our university established a drop in \u27Pokke\u27 on the campus in October 2007 as a place of practice to let college education and supporting local parenting families fuse. The paper is to try consideration about the function and the role of drop in center in the supporting function for parenting families

ヨウイクセイ ノ イクセイ ニ カンスル ケンキュウ ヨウジキ カラ ハジメル キョウカン キョウイク

本稿でとりあげる「共感教育」(Roots of Empathy=ROE)はMary Gordonにより創設された幼稚園児から中学生を対象としたカナダの教育プログラムの一つで、学校教育のなかで実践され次世代の養育性を養う準備教育として成果をあげている。生徒は1学年を通して一人の乳児の成長過程と親子関係に直接ふれながら共感性を育んでいく。筆者らはROEの日本での有効性を検討するため、東京都下H市立小学校において総合学習の一環として試行的実践を行なった(2001年6月～2002年3月、2003年3月)。生徒の87%は高い授業評価で、命への慈しみ、乳児の感情や発達について理解を深め、とくに自尊感情の上昇が認められた。ROEは予防的プログラムとしてさまざまな教育効果が期待できるが、導入には十分な検討が必要である。日本での取り組みの可能性、活用について考察する。Roots of Empathy (ROE) created by Ms Mary Gordon, has been a part of school curricula in Canada and has contributed to cultivating nurturance among children. Through ROE, a year round cooperative program between a baby, its parent(s) and students ranging from kindergarten through junior high school, children learn empathy. This study was aimed at examining the effects of ROE in Japan, which was implemented at public Elementary School in H city Tokyo (from June 2001 to March 2002, March 2003). Questionnaires and remarks made after class resulted 87% positive feedbacks. Self esteem of children increased after they learned respect for lives by focusing of a baby and observing its development. ROE can be defined as an effective study program to prevent various problems in the future. However, to start it in Japan, it needed to be examined carefully

The Tottori-Ken Seibu earthquake and exacerbation of asthma in adults

The aim of the study was to characterize patients at risk for exacerbations of their asthma as a result of the Tottori-Ken Seibu earthquake and to identify factors that predict exacerbation of asthma after an earthquake. Aretrospective cohort study-analysis was conducted of 156 asthmatic patients, aged 18 to 89 years, who were out-patients of Tottori University Hospital and who had completely recorded their asthmatic symptoms and measured their peak expiratory flow (PEF) rates for more than one year prior to the earthquake. Seventeen (11%) patients who experienced the earthquake were identified as having an exacerbation within one month after the earthquake. Diurnal variability of PEF during the month after the earthquake was compared to values during a matched month one year previously. When factors associated with exacerbation were identified by a review of the medical case notes and the contribution of these factors to the exacerbation was determined using multivariate analysis, airflow limitation was shown to be independently associated with exacerbation after the earthquake. Acute asthma attacks are more likely to occur within the first week after the earthquake event without diurnal PEF variability. Asthma is likely to worsen after an earthquake

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Treated with Oral Ambroxol Hydrochloride and Bronchoalveolar Lavage

A 59-year-old man visited our hospital in June 1997 because of cough and dyspnea at rest. He was diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy. The alveoli were distended with pink homogeneous material that showed staining with the periodic acid Schiff method. The concentration of surfactant protein A in BAL fluid was significantly increased. We treated the patient with oral ambroxol hydrochloride and therapeutic BAL. We believe that this combination of therapies is the first choice for the treatment of PAP

Mutual information for stochastic differential equations

Mutual information is calculated for processes described by stochastic differential equations. The expression for the mutual information has an interpretation in filtering theory.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33555/1/0000056.pd