Pulmonary and serum cytokine profiles of patients with anti-ARS and anti-MDA5 antibodies.

The present study aimed to determine the pulmonary cytokine profiles of patients with anti-RNA synthetase (ARS) and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) antibodies. The study included patients with ARS and MDA5 whose serum or bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) was available. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay microarray multiplex assay was used to measure 18 cytokine levels in serum and BALF.

Clinical significance of a basophil activation test for Japanese beekeepers naturally sensitized to honey bee venom.

Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing Hymenoptera venom allergy and is useful for predicting the clinical sensitivity of bee venom-allergic patients after venom immunotherapy. Patients sensitized to Hymenoptera venom are at risk for systemic reactions (SRs) to subsequent stings. Therefore, a tool that can predict the occurrence of SRs and the severity of Hymenoptera stings is needed.

Differences and similarities in cytokine profiles of macrophage activation syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus and adult-onset Still's disease.

To clarify the differences and similarities in the cytokine profiles of macrophage activating syndrome (MAS) between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). The study participants included 9 patients with MAS-SLE, 22 with non-MAS-SLE, 9 with MAS-AOSD, and 13 with non-MAS-AOSD. Serum cytokine levels were measured using a multiplex bead assay.

Changing patterns of pulmonary abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: As a first step in identifying the developmental pathways of pulmonary abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we sought to determine the existing and changing patterns of pulmonary abnormalities.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with RA who underwent high-resolution computed tomography before and during biologic therapy. The presence of 20 pulmonary abnormalities and the changes in those abnormalities were recorded.

The role of anti-elastin antibodies in a mouse model of asthma.

Background: The role of anti-elastin antibody (Ab) in the lung is unclear, although they may be involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently, increased anti-elastin Ab levels were reported in asthma.

Objective: To elucidate the role of anti-elastin Ab in asthma, we created a murine asthma model.

Elevation of anti-elastin antibody in patients with asthma.

Background: It is often difficult to differentiate between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and useful biomarkers are needed for accurate diagnosis.

Objective: We evaluated anti-elastin antibody to identify useful biomarkers for differentiating between a diagnosis of asthma and COPD.

Methods: Patients with asthma (male to female ratio = 10/13; mean age, 67.

Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on bone mineral density in patients with asthma.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are a safe treatment for asthma. However, at higher doses, ICS use has been reported to inhibit adrenocortical function.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ICS on bone mineral density (BMD) in adult patients with asthma.

Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis in Japanese Beekeepers.

: Honeybee stings often lead to anaphylactic shock. We surveyed Japanese beekeepers to examine whether adrenaline auto-injectors are properly used after honeybee stings.: We contacted representatives of the Japanese Beekeeping Association in all 47 prefectures for assistance distributing allergist-developed questionnaires.

Th2 cell differentiation from naive CD4 T cells is enhanced by autocrine CC chemokines in atopic diseases.

Background: Chemokines are involved not only in regulating leucocyte recruitment, but also in other activities. However, functions other than cell recruitment remain poorly understood. We have already shown that the production of CC chemokine ligand (CCL)17 and CCL22 by antigen-stimulated naïve CD4  T cells was higher in asthmatic patients than in healthy controls.

Tofacitinib for refractory interstitial lung diseases in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated 5 gene antibody-positive dermatomyositis.

Objective: We aimed to determine the outcome of combination therapy with tofacitinib (TOF) in a case series of refractory rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated 5 gene (MDA5) antibody-positive (Ab+) DM. Patients who had poor prognostic factors and failed to respond to immunosuppressive therapy were selected for TOF treatment.

Methods: Five patients with anti-MDA5 Ab+ DM-ILD who failed to respond to triple therapy with high dose glucocorticoids, CSA and CYC were given additional TOF (10 mg/day).

Effect of adjusting the combination of budesonide/formoterol on the alleviation of asthma symptoms.

Background: The combination of budesonide + formoterol (BFC) offers the advantages of dose adjustment in a single inhaler according to asthma symptoms. We analyzed the relationship between asthma symptoms in terms of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and dose adjustment by the patient.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with asthma who used BFC for alleviation of their symptoms (12 men, 16 women; 60 years old) were instructed that the inhaled BFC dose could be increased to a maximum of 8 inhalations per day according to symptom severity.

Allergic T2 Response Governed by B-Cell Lymphoma 6 Function in Naturally Occurring Memory Phenotype CD4 T Cells.

Transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) appears to regulate T2 immune responses in allergies, but its precise role is unclear. We previously reported that Bcl6 suppressed IL-4 production in naïve CD4 T cell-derived memory T2 cells. To investigate Bcl6 function in allergic responses in naturally occurring memory phenotype CD4 T (MPT) cells and their derived T2 (MPT2) cells, -manipulated , highly conserved intron enhancer (hcIE)-deficient , and reporter mice for conserved noncoding sequence 2 (CNS2) 3' distal enhancer region were used to elucidate Bcl6 function in MPT cells.

Molecular biological analysis in a patient with multiple lung adenocarcinomas.

The utility of molecular biological analysis in lung adenocarcinoma has been demonstrated. Herein we report a rare case presenting as multiple lung adenocarcinomas with four different EGFR gene mutations detected in three lung tumors. After opacification was detected by routine chest X-ray, the patient, a 64-year-old woman, underwent chest computed tomography which revealed a right lung segment S4 ground-glass nodule (GGN).

Development of chronic allergic responses by dampening Bcl6-mediated suppressor activity in memory T helper 2 cells.

Mice deficient in the transcriptional repressor B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 (Bcl6) exhibit similar T helper 2 (T2) immune responses as patients with allergic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Bcl6-directed regulation of T2 cytokine genes remain unclear. We identified multiple Bcl6/STAT binding sites (BSs) in T2 cytokine gene loci.

Transcriptional repression of p27 is essential for murine embryonic development.

The Nczf gene has been identified as one of Ncx target genes and encodes a novel KRAB zinc-finger protein, which functions as a sequence specific transcriptional repressor. In order to elucidate Nczf functions, we generated Nczf knockout (Nczf-/-) mice. Nczf-/- mice died around embryonic day 8.

Improved sensitivity to venom specific-immunoglobulin E by spiking with the allergen component in Japanese patients suspected of Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Background: Ves v 5 and Pol d 5, which constitute antigen 5, are recognized as the major, most potent allergens of family Vespidae. Several studies have reported the diagnostic sensitivity of the novel recombinant (r)Ves v 5 and rPol d 5 allergens in routine clinical laboratory settings by analyzing a group of Vespula and Polistes venom-allergic patients. In this study, we analyzed the sensitivity to venom specific (s)IgE by spiking with rVes v 5 and rPol d 5 in Japanese patients suspected of Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Epidemiologic Investigation of Hornet and Paper Wasp Stings in Forest Workers and Electrical Facility Field Workers in Japan.

Background: Forestry and field workers who work outdoors are at high risk for Hymenoptera stings and may develop occupation-related allergies from being stung. However, clinical and immunological surveys of Hymenoptera stings in the occupational setting have rarely been reported. We surveyed the natural history of Hymenoptera stings in Japanese forestry workers (FWs) and electrical facility field workers (EFFWs), and we assessed the utility of measuring specific (s)IgE Ab to Hymenptera venom.

Epidemiologic investigation of hornet and paper wasp stings in forest workers and electrical facility field workers in Japan.

Background: Forestry and field workers who work outdoors are at high risk for Hymenoptera stings and may develop occupation-related allergies from being stung. However, clinical and immunological surveys of Hymenoptera stings in the occupational setting have rarely been reported. We surveyed the natural history of Hymenoptera stings in Japanese forestry workers (FWs) and electrical facility field workers (EFFWs), and we assessed the utility of measuring specific (s)IgE Ab to Hymenptera venom.

Wasp venom allergy: effect of anti-IgE antibody on wasp venom anaphylaxis in a mouse model.

Background: Although anti-IgE antibody (Ab) therapy was recently shown to be effective in patients with bronchial asthma, no study has reported the effect of IgE therapy in the prevention of wasp venom anaphylaxis. In this study, we used a mouse model of wasp venom allergy to investigate the effect of anti-IgE Ab on wasp venom anaphylaxis.

Methods: We developed a mouse model of wasp venom allergy by intraperitoneally (i.

Lack of both α2-antiplasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 induces high IgE production.

Aims: We investigated the pathophysiological changes in mice lacking α2-antiplasmin (α2-AP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) genes, and elucidated the involvement of these inhibitors for fibrinolysis in immune response.

Main Methods: The pathophysiological changes induced by a lack of both α2-AP and PAI-1 were investigated using double knockout (KO) mice. The lung, liver, kidney and spleen tissues from α2-AP/PAI-1-double KO mice were compared with those from wild-type (WT) mice.