15 research outputs found
Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter and protein expression of the chemokine Eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer patients
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies suggest that chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) promote and regulate neoplastic progression including metastasis and angiogenesis. The chemokine eotaxin-1 is a powerful eosinophil attractant but also exerts chemotaxis of other leukocytes. Eotaxin-1 has been implicated in gastrointestinal disorders and may play an important role in colorectal mucosal immunity.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>The objective of this study was to assess the role of eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Levels of eotaxin-1 protein in CRC tissues (n = 86) and paired normal mucosa were compared after determination by ELISA. Plasma eotaxin-1 levels from CRC patients (n = 67) were also compared with controls (n = 103) using the same method. Moreover, a TaqMan system was used to evaluate the -384A>G eotaxin-1 gene variant in CRC patients (n = 241) and in a control group (n = 253).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eotaxin-1 protein levels in colorectal tumours were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than in normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed eotaxin-1 expression in stromal cells such as fibroblasts and leukocytes of the CRC tissue. The plasma eotaxin-1 level in CRC patients was lower compared with controls (P < 0.0001). Patients with tumours classified as Dukes' stage B and C had lower levels than patients with tumours in Dukes' stage A. We found no difference in genotype distribution but noted a difference regarding allele distribution (P = 0.036) and a dominance of allele G in rectal cancer patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The up-regulated eotaxin-1 protein expression in cancer tissue may reflect an eotaxin-1 mediated angiogenesis and/or a recruitment of leukocytes with potential antitumourigenic role. We noticed a dominance of the G allele in rectal cancer patients compared with colon cancer patients that was independent of eotaxin-1 expression.</p
Increases in eotaxin-positive cells in induced sputum from atopic asthmatic subjects after inhalational allergen challenge.
BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are believed to be critical proinflammatory cells in airway mucosal damage in asthma. Eotaxin is a C-C chemokine with selective activity for eosinophils and basophils. Previous studies have shown increased expression of eotaxin in the airways of asthmatics at baseline. We aimed to investigate eotaxin expression during the late-phase reaction to allergen inhalation in atopic asthmatics. METHODS: Sputum induction was performed before and 24 h after inhalational allergen challenge in atopic asthmatics, and eotaxin protein was detected immunocytochemically. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with a mean decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 28% (+/-1.5) during the early asthmatic reaction, and 39% (+/-4.7) during the late asthmatic reaction produced sufficient sputum for study. The percentage of eosinophils in sputum was increased 24 h after allergen challenge (P<0.004), and eosinophil percentages in sputum after challenge correlated with the magnitude of the late-phase reaction (r=0.56, P=0.05). The percentage of eotaxin-positive cells increased from 12.6% (range 2-43.8) to 24.3% (8.1-47.1, P<0.005). Allergen-induced increases in eotaxin-positive cells correlated with increases in eosinophils (r=0.63, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that eotaxin may contribute to allergen-induced recruitment of eosinophils to the airway in asthmatic subjects
Prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in Athens, Greece
Asthma is a common chronic condition and there is evidence that its
prevalence may be rising. The European Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS)
was planned to produce comparable data on asthma epidemiology in Europe.
In Greece, in particular, a similar study has not been conducted
previously and no epidemiological data are available on adult asthma
prevalence. Furthermore, the role of air pollution in the pathogenesis
of asthma is currently an issue of debate. Athens is a city with high
air pollution, and a study of asthma epidemiology in this city may
confirm or refute a possible link with the expression of asthma. A
questionnaire developed by the ECRHS was sent to a random sample of 3533
households in Peristeri, an industrialized borough of Athens. Responses
were received from 2774 households (response rate 78%). Of all the data
on individual subjects, only those from 3325 adults aged 20-44 years
were considered, according to the study protocol. The self-reported
current prevalence of asthmatic attacks and asthma-like symptoms were as
follows: asthma attack 2.4%, use of asthma medication 2.1%, awakening
by shortness of breath 5.6%, awakening by cough 17.8%, wheezing 15.8%
and nasal allergies 18.4%.
It is concluded that the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in
this region of Athens is rather low, despite the high air-pollution
levels in the city