The Effect of Lyso-PAF on Ciliary Activity of Human Paranasal Sinus Mucosa in vitro

The effect of lyso-PAF on ciliated cells was investigated in vitro. Normal mucosa was surgically obtained from human paranasal sinuses and incubated in the form of tissue culture. Ciliated epithelium was magnified under an inverted microscope, and ciliary movement was photo-electrically measured. Ciliary activity was significantly inhibited by 10−8 M lyso-PAF and could be restored. The effect of lyso-PAF was completely blocked by CV-6209, a specific PAF antagonist. The PAF concentration in the incubation medium of lyso-PAF was determined by radioimmunoassay, because PAF is a well known inhibitor of ciliary activity. PAF gradually increased and after 20 min reached its maximal level. These findings indicated the existence of an enzyme in the paranasal sinus mucosa, by which lyso-PAF is converted to PAF, and that lyso-PAF can inhibit ciliary activity by means of PAF

Elevation of soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in nasal allergy

To investigate soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in nasal allergy, the sera and nasal secretions from patients with nasal allergy and from healthy subjects were subjected to a double-epitope enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant elevation of sIL-2R concentrations in the sera and nasal secretions was observed in the allergy patients (n = 26) compared with those of healthy subjects (n = 9). IL-2R-positive (CD25+) cells were observed in the crust formed in an allergic nasal mucosa. The concentration of sIL-2R in the sera correlated neither with the eosinophil count of the peripheral blood count nor with clinical severity. The concentration of sIL-2R in the nasal secretions was significantly higher compared with that in the sera from allergic patients (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was observed between sIL-2R levels in the sera and nasal sections from normal subjects. These findings indicate that sIL-2R plays an essential role in allergic processes by regulating IL-2R-positive cells recruited into the nasal mucosa

Detection of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the effusion of otitis media with effusion

We measured sIL-2R, TNF-α and sICAM-1 in the sera and middle ear effusions (MEEs) of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). Although there was no signmcant difference between the sIL-2R levels of the serous and mucoid MEEs, they were significantly higher than serum sIL-2R levels of OME patients and healthy controls. TNF-α levels of the mucoid MEEs were significantly higher than those of the serous type. However, TNF-α was rarely detected in the sera of OME patients or healthy controls. We observed significant differences between the serous and mucoid MEEs with respect to their sICAM-1 levels, which were also higher than serum slCAM-1 levels of OME patients and healthy controls. Our findings suggested that IL-2, TNF-α and ICAM-1 could be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of OME through the cytokine network

TOWARDS UNSTEADY APPROACH FOR FUTURE FLUTTER CALCULATIONS

International audienc

TOWARDS UNSTEADY APPROACH FOR FUTURE FLUTTER CALCULATIONS

International audienc

Tumour necrosis factor-α in nasal allergy

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) by radio-immunoassay to evaluate TNF-α in nasal allergy. There was no significant difference either between the mean concentrations of TNF-α in nasal secretions from the patients with perennial nasal allergy and those of normal subjects, or between the TNF-α and ECP concentrations. However, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed a specific increase of TNF-α mRNA and IFN-γ mRNA in allergic nasal mucosa after allergen challenge in vitro. These findings suggest a possibility that T cell-derived IFN-γ up-regulates macrophages to elaborate TNF-α, which may play a role in amplifying allergic inflammation in the nose through the cytokine network

Common antigenicity between Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) pollen, II. Determination of the cross‐reacting T‐cell epitope of Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 in mice

We have previously detected common antigenicity between Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 in B10.S mice. B10.S mice immunized with Cry j 1‐ or Cha o 1‐generated T cells and antibodies reactive to both allergens. In the present study, we investigated the cross‐reacting and Cry j 1‐specific T‐cell epitopes in B10.S mice. Lymph node cells from B10.S mice immunized with Cry j 1 recognized Cry j 1 p111–130, p211–230, and p310–330 as well as Cha o 1 p209–228. The existence of the cross‐reacting T‐cell epitope in Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 was confirmed by the response of newly established p211–230‐specific and Cha o 1 p209–228‐specific T‐cell lines. The minimum peptide sequence (p213–224) of the cross‐reacting T‐cell epitope was identical in Cry j 1 and Cha o 1. These findings clearly demonstrate that common antigenicity at the T‐cell level between Japanese cedar and cypress pollen allergens was caused by the existence of an identitical‐cell epitope in Cry j 1 and Cha o 1