Pulmonary CCL18 recruits human regulatory T cells.

CCL18 is both a constitutively expressed and an inducible chemokine, whose role in the inflammatory reaction is poorly known. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CCL18 has the capacity to attract human T cells with a regulatory function (regulatory T cells [Treg]). Results from chemotaxis assays performed on different types of Treg showed that CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) cells, but neither T regulatory type 1 clones nor Treg differentiated in vitro with anti-CD3/CD46 mAbs, were recruited by CCL18 in a dose-dependent manner.

CCL18 differentiates dendritic cells in tolerogenic cells able to prime regulatory T cells in healthy subjects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nonchemotactic function of CCL18 on human dendritic cells (DCs). In different protocols of DC differentiation, CCL18 was highly produced, suggesting that it may constitute a mandatory mediator of the differentiation process. Differentiation of monocytes from healthy subjects in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and CCL18 led to the development of DCs with a semimature phenotype, with intermediate levels of costimulatory and MHC class II molecules, increased CCR7 expression, which induced, in coculture with allogenic naive T cells, an increase in IL-10 production.

Predictive factors for evaluation of response to fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination in severe COPD.

Background: The predictive factors for treatment response in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unknown. We investigated predictive factors for response to fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FSC) in severe COPD patients.

Methods: This prospective, open-label, non-comparative study included 921 adult patients with severe COPD (baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) <50% of predicted), a history of repeated exacerbations, and symptoms despite bronchodilator treatment.

[Refractory asthma: diagnosing allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis].

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) results from a twofold mechanism: Th2-like hypersensitivity reaction and bronchial colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus. This relatively rare disease occurs in immunocompetent patients in two very different situations: refractory asthma and cystic fibrosis. Diagnosis in asthma patients is relatively easy; it is based on the association of several criteria: clinical (recurrent exacerbations despite adequate therapy and a positive A.

[IqE dependent hypersensitivity and allergic inflammation].

The development of the IgE-dependent inflammatory reaction is made of 3 successives phases. The initiation period is related to dendritic cells, present everywhere in peripheral tissues, able after maturation to migrate to the draining lymph-node and to present immunogenic peptides to the naïve T lymphocyte. After this first step of sensitization, in case of a new contact with allergens, the inflammatory phase is rapidly developing: mast cell activation, then massive influx of eosinophils, neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes, all phenomenas under the control of different T-lymphocyte subpopulations: T-CD4+ cells with a pro-allergic Th2 profile but also newly identified T regulatory cells (Tr-1, T CD4+ CD25+).

Pulmonary manifestations of Pyoderma gangrenosum.

Introduction: Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon ulcerative cutaneous disorder. Extracutaneous localizations are rare. Respiratory system involvement has been described in a few cases, but the pulmonary features reported were highly variable.

Impact of lactic Acid bacteria on dendritic cells from allergic patients in an experimental model of intestinal epithelium.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram positive nonpathogenic commensal organisms present in human gastrointestinal tract. In vivo, LAB are separated from antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DC) by the intestinal epithelial barrier. In this study, the impact of one LAB strain (Lactobacillus casei ATCC393) on human monocyte-derived DC from allergic and healthy donors was assessed by using a polarized epithelium model.

Impact of bronchial epithelium on dendritic cell migration and function: modulation by the bacterial motif KpOmpA.

Mucosal immune response depends on the surveillance network established by dendritic cells (DC), APC localized within the epithelium. Bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) play a pivotal role both in the host defense and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disorders. We previously showed that the outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpOmpA), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae, activates BEC.

Endocan expression and relationship with survival in human non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We evaluated the expression of endocan, a soluble lung- and kidney-selective endothelial cell-specific dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, in non-small cell lung tumors compared with normal lung and studied the significance of high levels of circulating endocan in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Material And Methods: Endocan and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression were evaluated by semiquantitative PCR in tumoral and nontumoral lung tissue samples from a first series of 24 patients submitted to curative surgery. Relationships between survival, time to tumor progression, and serum levels of endocan were evaluated in a second series of 30 previously untreated patients addressed for staging.

Diesel exhaust exposure favors TH2 cell recruitment in nonatopic subjects by differentially regulating chemokine production.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in the last 20 years, and a number of studies have shown that diesel exhaust particle-associated polyaromatic hydrocarbons can exacerbate the allergic reaction. Much less is known about their potential capacity to generate a T(H)2-type allergic reaction in nonatopic subjects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that diesel exhaust exposure might favor, in nonatopic donors, T(H)2-type cell recruitment, either through increased production of T(H)2-attracting chemokines or decreased production of T(H)1-attracting chemokines.

Mycobacterium bovis BCG mycobacteria--new application.

The polarized response of T helper-2 (Th2) lymphocytes to an allergen is considered to be the main cause of the pathogenesis of asthma. In this study, we asked a question whether M. bovis BCG mycobacteria which are known for the preferential stimulation of T helper-1 (Th1) immunity, diminish the effector functions of Th2 cells from allergic patients upon stimulation with a common house dust mite Der p-1 allergen.

CCR5 usage by CCL5 induces a selective leukocyte recruitment in human skin xenografts in vivo.

CCR5 is one of the major inflammatory chemokine receptors with potential therapeutical applications in humans. However, the redundancy of chemokines and their receptors, and the species specificity of chemokine receptor antagonists pose challenges to understanding of the role they play in pharmacological situations. To address this question, we used a humanized severe combined immunodeficient mouse model grafted with human skin and autologous leukocytes, and evaluated the effect of a blocking antibody against human CCR5, on CCL5-induced cutaneous leukocyte recruitment in vivo.

Involvement of CCL18 in allergic asthma.

Allergic asthma is associated with a pulmonary recruitment of Th type 2 cells, basophils, and eosinophils, mainly linked to chemokine production. CCL18 is a chemokine preferentially expressed in the lung, secreted by APCs, induced by Th2-type cytokines, and only present in humans. Therefore, CCL18 may be involved in allergic asthma.

[Specific immunotherapy and therapeutic strategies in allergic diseases. What's new?].

Specific immunotherapy (SIT) can induce tolerance of airborne allergens in patients with rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma. SIT is also effective for venom anaphylaxis. In contrast, SIT is not recommended in severe asthma, food allergy or skin allergy.

Pulmonary embolism in patients with unexplained exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevalence and risk factors.

Background: Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is difficult in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exacerbation.

Objective: To evaluate PE in patients with COPD and exacerbation of unknown origin and explore factors associated with PE.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Dendritic cells and toll-like receptors in allergy and asthma.

Epithelia represent a major portal of entry for pathogen microorganisms and allergens and are equipped with innate and adaptive immunity for their protection. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR), including Toll-Like Receptors (TLR), recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) shared by numerous microorganisms. TLR engagement is involved in innate immunity but also participates in the control of the adaptive immune response, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases like asthma.

Endocan, a new endothelial marker in human sepsis.

Objectives: a) To evaluate in septic patients the blood levels of endocan, a circulating proteoglycan, which regulates leukocyte function-associated antigen-1/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 interactions in vitro; b) to determine whether endocan could be used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in sepsis in the intensive care unit; and c) to study kinetics of endocan secretion by endothelial cells in vitro after stimulation by soluble mediators involved in sepsis.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Intensive care unit of the University Hospitals of Lille, France, and Geneva, Switzerland.

Direct regulatory immune activity of lactic acid bacteria on Der p 1-pulsed dendritic cells from allergic patients.

Background: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are suggested to play a regulatory role in the development of allergic reactions. However, their potential effects on dendritic cells (DCs) directing the immune polarization remain unclear.

Objective: The immunologic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 (LAB1) on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MD-DCs) from patients allergic to house dust mite was evaluated.

Prostaglandin D2 affects the differentiation and functions of human dendritic cells: impact on the T cell response.

The local environment in which dendritic cells (DC) differentiate is important for the acquisition of their immunostimulatory properties. Since prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)), a major prostanoid produced during inflammatory reactions, is involved in the control of immune responses, its effect on the differentiation and functions of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) was studied. We show that DC differentiated in the presence of PGD(2) (PG/DC) have an unusual phenotype, with modifications in the expression of molecules involved in antigen (Ag) capture and presentation, leading to higher endocytic and Ag-processing activities.

Asthmatic bronchial epithelium activated by the proteolytic allergen Der p 1 increases selective dendritic cell recruitment.

Background: Airway dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for allergen-induced sensitization and inflammation in allergic asthma. After allergen challenge, an increased number of DCs is observed in airway epithelium from patients with allergy.

Objective: Because Der p 1, a cysteine protease allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , induces chemokine production by bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the capacity of BEC exposed to Der p 1 to recruit DCs.

Migration and accumulation of eosinophils toward regional lymph nodes after airway allergen challenge.

Background: Eosinophils play a major role in allergic airway inflammation because of their ability to release toxic mediators. In addition, they are able to migrate toward draining thoracic lymph nodes (TLNs) after intratracheal administration, where they can function as antigen-presenting cells.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated in vivo eosinophil migration toward the TLN after allergen sensitization and analyzed expression of molecules involved in antigen presentation.

Cell and cytokine profile in nasal secretions in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Nasal polyposis (NP) frequently complicates the course of cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of inflammatory cells and mediators in nasal secretions from patients with or without NP compared to patients with idiopathic NP and healthy controls.

Methods: Eighteen CF patients with NP (NP+ group: 6 untreated, 12 treated with nasal steroids), and 15 without NP (NP- group) were included in this prospective study and compared to 9 patients with idiopathic NP and 12 healthy controls.

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells exposed to Der p 1 allergen enhance the recruitment of Th2 cells: major involvement of the chemokines TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen - presenting cells that can orientate the immune response towards a Th1 or a Th2 type. DC produce chemokines that are involved in the recruitment of either Th1 cells, such as IP10 (CXCL10), Th2 cells such as TARC (CCL17) and MDC (CCL22), or non-polarized T cells such as RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-lalpha (CCL3). We investigated whether monocyte-derived DC (MD-DC) generated from healthy donors or from patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and exposed to the cysteine-protease Der p 1(allergen of Dpt), could upregulate the expression of chemokines involved in type 1 or type 2 T cell recruitment.