Th2 cell regulatory and effector molecules single nucleotide polymorphisms and periodontitis.

To investigate the association between T helper 2 (Th2) cell regulatory and effector molecules' genetic polymorphisms and periodontitis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 11 Th2 cell regulatory or effector molecules genes (CD28, CTLA4, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL9, IL10, IL13, IL4R, GATA3, STAT6, and rs1537415; total 130 SNPs) were studied in Chinese nonsmokers (163 periodontitis-free controls, 141 periodontitis patients) using Sequenom iPlex assays. SNPs potentially associated with periodontitis (adjusted allelic P < 0.

Human chorionic gonadotropin potentially affects pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent implantation failure by regulating the homing preference of regulatory T cells.

Problem: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been suggested to play important roles during the initial stage of pregnancy. However, the clinical relevance and mechanism of the effects of hCG on Treg functions in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remain to be elucidated.

Method Of Study: Thirty-four RIF and twenty-three control women were included in the study.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome/X-linked thrombocytopenia in China: Clinical characteristic and genotype-phenotype correlation.

Background: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) are caused by mutations of the WAS gene. The genotype-phenotype association of WAS and XLT have not been fully elucidated. Here, we established the largest database of WAS in China to further determine the potential correlation between genotype and phenotype and long-term outcome.

Clinical significance and therapeutic value of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of GPx3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to characterize its tumor suppressive role.

Methods: HCC patients (113) who underwent hepatectomy were recruited to examine the clinical relevance of GPx3. The tumor suppressive role of GPx3 was studied by administration of recombinant GPx3 (rGPx3) or over-expression of GPx3 in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Clinical, molecular, and T cell subset analyses in a small cohort of Chinese patients with hyper-IgM syndrome type 1.

Type 1 hyper-IgM syndrome (HIGM1) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease caused by mutations in the CD40L gene. Patients often present with recurrent infections and autoimmune manifestations. We investigated the clinical and molecular characteristics of HIGM1 in thirteen patients from the Chinese mainland and examined the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+)Treg, Th17, and Th1 cells in the peripheral blood.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection induces higher Toll-like receptor-3 expression and TNF-α production than human metapneumovirus infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are common causes of respiratory infections in children. Diseases caused by hMPV are generally considered to be less severe than those caused by RSV; the underlying mechanisms, however, remain unknown. In the present study, the expressions of TLRs in airway epithelial cells and lungs of BALB/c mice infected by hMPV or RSV were measured in an attempt to explore the differences in the airway inflammation caused by the two viruses.

Andrographolide exerted its antimicrobial effects by upregulation of human β-defensin-2 induced through p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathway in human lung epithelial cells.

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) Nees is a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of infection and inflammation in China. Andrographolide (andro) is one of the major components.

Amino acid residues 253 and 591 of the PB2 protein of avian influenza virus A H9N2 contribute to mammalian pathogenesis.

We investigated the tropism, host responses, and virulence of two variants of A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/1997 (H9N2) (H9N2/G1) with D253N and Q591K in the PB2 protein in primary human macrophages and bronchial epithelium in vitro and in mice in vivo. Virus with PB2 D253N and Q591K had greater polymerase activity in minireplicon assays, induced more tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in human macrophages, replicated better in differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, and was more pathogenic for mice. Taken together, our studies help define the viral genetic determinants that contribute to pathogenicity of H9N2 viruses.

A novel H1N1 virus causes the first pandemic of the 21st century.

A novel H1N1 virus of swine origin (H1N1v ) is currently spreading in humans, giving rise to the first pandemic in 40 years. The disease is of moderate severity but has notable differences from seasonal influenza. In contrast to seasonal influenza, those over 60 years are relatively spared, a likely consequence of the presence of H1N1v cross-neutralizing antibody in this age group.

Antiviral CD8 T cells in the control of primary human cytomegalovirus infection in early childhood.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) establishes persistent infection, with control of replication thought to be mediated by CMV-specific CD8 T cells. Primary CMV infection commonly affects young children and causes prolonged viral shedding in saliva and urine. We investigated whether this virus-host interaction pattern reflects a developmental deficiency of antiviral CD8 T cell-mediated immunity during childhood.