NET-producing CD16 CD62L neutrophils migrate to tumor sites and predict improved survival in patients with HNSCC.

The concept of functional neutrophil subsets is new and their clinical significance in malignancies is unknown. Our study investigated the role of CD16 CD62L , CD16 CD62L and CD16 CD62L neutrophil subsets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. These neutrophil subsets may play different roles in immune-related activity in cancer, based on their profile, activation state and migration ability within a tumor site, which may be important in predicting cancer prognoses.

Substance P represents a novel first-line defense mechanism in the nose.

Background: Neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP), have long been seen as mediators of widespread continuous airway inflammation, a process known as neurogenic inflammation. However, this has been difficult to demonstrate clinically, suggesting an alternative role for these signaling molecules.

Objectives: We sought to examine the role of SP in nasal infection by assessing the release of SP in response to viral stimulation and characterizing the effects of SP on innate immunity, with the latter reflected in changes in local Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression.

Nod-like receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusion: The capability of Nod1 to recognize bacteria along with its altered expression and ability to cause an immunological response in head and neck cancer suggest a novel pathway for bacteria to interfere with ongoing cancer inflammation.

Objective: Nucleotide oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptors (NLRs) comprise a recently discovered family of pattern-recognition receptors. In addition to their protective function against infections, accumulating evidence suggests a role for these receptors in various diseases, including cancer.

The activation pattern of blood leukocytes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is correlated to survival.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is known to cause substantial immunosuppression. The present study was designed to characterize blood leukocyte activation in HNSCC and to investigate if the individual activation pattern could be related to tumor progress and survival. The leukocyte activation profile of HNSCC patients and healthy controls was assessed with flow cytometry.

Diminished levels of nasal S100A7 (psoriasin) in seasonal allergic rhinitis: an effect mediated by Th2 cytokines.

Background: S100A7 is an antimicrobial peptide involved in several inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression and regulation of S100A7 in seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

Methods: Nasal lavage (NAL) fluid was obtained from healthy controls before and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) provocation, from SAR patients before and after allergen challenge, and from SAR patients having completed allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT).

Retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-like receptors in the upper respiratory tract.

Background: Retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-like receptors (RLRs) are a novel family of pattern recognition receptors that include retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1), melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5), and laboratory of genomics and physiology 2 (LGP-2). The knowledge of RLRs and their function in the human airway is limited. This study explores the role of RLRs in the upper respiratory tract.

NOD-like receptors in the human upper airways: a potential role in nasal polyposis.

Background: Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are newly discovered cytosolic receptors belonging to the pattern-recognition receptor family. They detect various pathogen-associated molecular patterns, triggering an immune response. The knowledge about these receptors, and their role in health and disease, is limited.

Reduced iNOS expression in adenoids from children with otitis media with effusion.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator in the local immune response of human airways. Inducible NO-synthases (iNOS), and endothelial NO-synthases (eNOS) are two enzymes known to regulate its production. The role of NO in middle ear disease is not fully known.

Nod1, Nod2 and Nalp3 receptors, new potential targets in treatment of allergic rhinitis?

Background: Recently, a new set of pattern-recognition receptors, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptors (NLRs), have emerged. Their activation, either by allergens or microbes, triggers an inflammatory response. The knowledge about NLRs in human airways is limited.

Toll-like receptor agonists induce inflammation and cell death in a model of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer. The present study describes TLR expression and function in healthy and malignant airway epithelial cells. The squamous cell carcinoma cell line Detroit-562 was compared with the healthy bronchial epithelial cell line NL-20 and primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs).

TLR3 in human eosinophils: functional effects and decreased expression during allergic rhinitis.

Background/aim: Viral respiratory infections are increasingly implicated in allergic exacerbations. Virus-induced activation of eosinophils through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) could be involved. The present study was designed to examine TLR3 expression in eosinophils from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) during symptomatic allergic rhinitis, and to evaluate the functional responsiveness of TLR3 in purified eosinophils.

Increased TLR7 expression in the adenoids among children with otitis media with effusion.

Conclusion: Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is present in the adenoids in young children and might play a role in the immunological response behind the development of otitis media with effusion (OME).

Objectives: To investigate the expression of the TLRs TLR4 and TLR7 in adenoids from children with OME and to compare the results with data obtained from healthy controls.

Subjects And Methods: This was a controlled, prospective study.

Interleukin-1beta up-regulates tumor necrosis factor receptors in the mouse airways.

Cytokines like interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), released during the inflammatory process, play important roles in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness. The effects of these cytokines are mediated by cell surface receptors, specific for each cytokine. The expression of cytokine receptors is a dynamic process, where receptors can be up- or down-regulated in response to changes in the environment.

Enhanced expression of CGRP in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons during cell and organ culture.

The sensory innervation of intracranial vessels originates in the trigeminal ganglion with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) as frequent neuronal messengers. The present study was designed to study the expression of these neuropeptides (a) in primary culture of adult rat trigeminal ganglion neuronal cells and (b) in organ culture of sections of the trigeminal ganglion. In cell culture, axons grow in the peripheral direction for up to 48 h.

Neurotransmitter candidates in the vomeronasal organ of the rat.

Conclusion: The rich supply of nerve fibres containing neurotransmitters, particularly those containing SP and CGRP, is suggested to be a prerequisite for the recognition of chemical irritants as part of a chemical sense.

Objective: The present study was designed to examine the distribution of different neurotransmitter candidates in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of rats.

Materials And Methods: The distribution of neurotransmitter candidates was studied in the vomeronasal organ of the rat using immunocytochemistry.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced down-regulation of uteroglobin in the human nose.

Conclusion: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge of the human nose has the capacity to reduce the amount of natural anti-inflammatory proteins, such as uteroglobin.

Objectives: Nasal challenge with LPS, an activator of innate immunity, has been shown to increase the amount of pro-inflammatory mediators in nasal lavage fluid. Uteroglobin is a newly described anti-inflammatory mediator that is secreted in the nose.

Expression of Toll-like receptor 9 in nose, peripheral blood and bone marrow during symptomatic allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease of the upper airway mucosa that also affects leukocytes in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a receptor for unmethylated CpG dinucleotides found in bacterial and viral DNA. The present study was designed to examine the expression of TLR9 in the nasal mucosa and in leukocytes derived from different cellular compartments during symptomatic allergic rhinitis.

Inverse relation between nasal fluid Clara Cell Protein 16 levels and symptoms and signs of rhinitis in allergen-challenged patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis.

Background: Decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory Clara Cell Protein 16 (CC16) are found in intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) and asthma. In asthma this decrease has been associated with hyperreactivity and the A38G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The aim of this study was to examine if IAR is associated with signs and symptoms of rhinitis and the A38G SNP.

Endothelin ETA and ETB receptor expression in the human trigeminal ganglion.

Objectives: Endothelin is a potent peptide mediator that is synthesized by a number of cells. Previous studies have revealed the occurrence of endothelin in nerve cell bodies of some peripheral ganglia. Endothelin mediates its effects via two distinct receptor subtypes ETA and ETB.

Topical steroids do not downregulate expression of growth-related oncogene-alpha in nasal polyps.

Conclusions: Topical steroids did not affect expression of growth-related oncogene-alpha (GRO-alpha) in nasal polyps. The results of this study suggest roles for steroid-resistant gene expression in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps and point to the need for additional pharmacological strategies.

Objective: Infiltration of inflammatory cells is believed to play a role in the development of nasal polyps.

Downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in nasal polyposis.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha, betadelta and gamma are nuclear receptors activated by fatty acid metabolites. An anti-inflammatory role for these receptors in airway inflammation has been suggested.

Methods: Nasal biopsies were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis.

Up-regulation of Toll-like receptors 2, 3 and 4 in allergic rhinitis.

Background: Toll-like receptors enable the host to recognize a large number of pathogen-associated molecular patterns such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide, viral RNA, CpG-containing DNA and flagellin. Toll-like receptors have also been shown to play a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. The role of Toll-like receptors as a primary part of our microbe defense system has been shown in several studies, but their possible function as mediators in allergy and asthma remains to be established.

Neurobiology in primary headaches.

Primary headaches such as migraine and cluster headache are neurovascular disorders. Migraine is a painful, incapacitating disease that affects a large portion of the adult population with a substantial economic burden on society. The disorder is characterised by recurrent unilateral headaches, usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and/or phonophobia.