Chitin induces steroid-resistant airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.

Background: Previous reports have shown that pathogen-associated patterns (PAMPs) induce the production of interleukin (IL)-1β in macrophages. Moreover, studies using mouse models also suggest that chitin, which acts as a PAMP, induces adjuvant effects and eosinophilic infiltration in the lung. Thus, we investigated the effects of inhaled chitin in mouse models.

Combination of TWEAK and TGF-β1 induces the production of TSLP, RANTES, and TARC in BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells during epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Aim Of The Study: In patients with asthma, chronic inflammatory processes and the subsequent remodeling of the airways contribute to the symptoms and the pathophysiological changes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to play an important role in tissue remodeling. Previous reports show that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, exerts pro-inflammatory effects, and enhances transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced EMT in bronchial epithelial cells.

Difference between two exhaled nitric oxide analyzers, NIOX VERO electrochemical hand-held analyzer and NOA280i chemiluminescence stationary analyzer.

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE) is useful for the evaluation of eosinophilic airway inflammation, including that seen in asthma. Although a new electrochemical hand-held FE analyzer, the NIOX VERO (Aerocrine AB, Solna, Sweden), is clinically convenient to use, it has not been fully compared with the chemiluminescence stationary electrochemical analyzer NOA280i (Sievers Instruments, Boulder, CO, USA) in terms of the level of measured FE. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between the two analyzers.

Leukotriene B receptor type 2 protects against pneumolysin-dependent acute lung injury.

Although pneumococcal infection is a serious problem worldwide and has a high mortality rate, the molecular mechanisms underlying the lethality caused by pneumococcus remain elusive. Here, we show that BLT2, a G protein-coupled receptor for leukotriene B and 12(S)-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), protects mice from lung injury caused by a pneumococcal toxin, pneumolysin (PLY). Intratracheal injection of PLY caused lethal acute lung injury (ALI) in BLT2-deficient mice, with evident vascular leakage and bronchoconstriction.

Circulating activated innate lymphoid cells and mucosal-associated invariant T cells are associated with airflow limitation in patients with asthma.

Background: A variety of innate subsets of lymphoid cells such as natural killer (NK) cells, several populations of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells as innate-like T lymphocytes are involved in asthma and may have important effector functions in asthmatic immune responses. In the present study, we investigated whether NK cells, ILCs, and MAIT cells in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma would be associated with clinical asthma parameters.

Methods: We recruited 75 adult patients with mild to severe asthma.

Evaluation of switching low-dose inhaled corticosteroid to pranlukast for step-down therapy in well-controlled patients with mild persistent asthma.

Objective: Treatment guidelines for asthma recommend step-down therapy for well-controlled asthma patients. However, the precise strategy for step-down therapy has not been well defined. We investigated whether well-controlled patients with mild persistent asthma can tolerate a step-down therapy of either a reduced dose of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or a switch to a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), pranlukast hydrate.

Characteristics of alveolar macrophages from murine models of OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation and LPS-induced acute airway inflammation.

Background:  Macrophages include the classically activated pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages (M1s) and alternatively activated anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages (M2s). The M1s are activated by both interferon-γ and Toll-like receptor ligands, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and have potent pro-inflammatory activity. In contrast, Th2 cytokines activate the M2s, which are involved in the immune response to parasites, promotion of tissue remodeling, and immune regulatory functions.