Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits T-lymphocyte proliferation and production of cytokines. We have examined expression of IL-10 messenger RNA (mRNA) in atopic asthma and in allergen and tuberculin skin responses by in situ hybridization. The proportion of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells positive for IL-10 mRNA was increased in a group of 10 symptomatic asthmatics when compared with control subjects (17.5% versus 5.2% BAL cells positive; P < 0.001). In a separate group of six mild atopic asthmatics, there was an increased proportion of BAL cells positive for IL-10 mRNA 24 h after allergen inhalation challenge compared with diluent challenge BAL from the same subjects (24% versus 10%; P < 0.005). By simultaneous in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, IL-10 mRNA was localized to both CD3+ T cells and CD68+ alveolar macrophages in BAL, with a significantly more prominent T-cell signal in the symptomatic asthmatics compared with control subjects and after allergen challenge compared with diluent challenge of the mild asthmatic subjects. It has been suggested that IL-10 production is a late event after T-cell activation. To examine kinetics and specificity of IL-10 mRNA expression, skin biopsies were obtained from atopic, tuberculin-sensitive subjects at 1, 6, and 48 h after cutaneous injection of allergen or tuberculin. With both stimuli, there was an increase in IL-10 mRNA-positive cells at 6 h when compared with control sites injected with appropriate diluent which were biopsied 24 h after injection (P < 0.01 for allergen and P < 0.02 for tuberculin). These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that IL-10 mRNA is expressed in both macrophages and T lymphocytes in the airway in asthma and that IL-10 mRNA expression is induced from T lymphocytes in response to allergen. This response may also occur in other types of cell-mediated inflammation.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Feb
PMID:Increased interleukin-10 messenger RNA expression in atopic allergy and asthma. 863 Feb 59

Histamine was one of the first inflammatory mediators thought to be important in the pathophysiology of asthma, but it is not now thought to be a mediator with primary importance in airway constriction. However, histamine has several effects that may be relevant. One of these effects, its immunoregulatory role, has been largely ignored in asthma. Thus, because mast cells (MC) are an important source of histamine and cytokines, the modulation by histamine of the release of one cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), was investigated. Rat peritoneal MC (PMC) were pretreated with different concentrations of histamine (10(-14) to 10(-4) M) for 2 h before being tested for their TNF alpha-dependent cytotoxicity. A concentration-dependent inhibition of cytotoxicity was observed from 21% at 10(-12) M to 38% at 10(-4) M, reaching a plateau at 10(-8) M. At least 1 h pretreatment with histamine or its presence throughout the cytotoxic assay was required for the inhibitory effect of histamine. This inhibition was abrogated by indomethacin or anti-PGE2, suggesting that PGE2 may be an important mediator in the inhibition of TNF alpha by histamine. To investigate the type of histamine receptor implicated in this effect, PMC were treated for 20 min with H1 (clemastine and diphenhydramine), H2 (ranitidine and cimetidine), or H3 (thioperamide) receptor antagonists before the addition of histamine. H2 or H3 antagonists abrogated the inhibitory effect of histamine on PMC TNF alpha-dependent cytotoxicity. Furthermore, blockage of H2 receptors with ranitidine increased the release of TNF alpha from PMC stimulated with antigen, suggesting that histamine released by MC within 10 min of antigen stimulation downregulates the subsequent release of TNF alpha from the same MC population. These results suggest that histamine may act as an autocrine regulator of cytokine release by MC and thus modulate inflammatory responses in allergic asthma.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Jun
PMID:Histamine inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha release by mast cells through H2 and H3 receptors. 865 90

In order to investigate whether the pulmonary response to helminth antigens mimics that seen in allergic inflammation of the airways, we have examined the phenotypic characteristics of lymphocytes and eosinophils recruited to the airways following Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (N.b.) infection. Specifically, the cellular response was divided into an early and a late phase. During the early response there was a small but significant increase in neutrophil numbers recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Phenotypic analysis of BAL leukocytes revealed an early rise in the percentage of BAL lymphocytes expressing the naive T cell markers CD45RB and L-selectin, and the activation marker IL-2R. In addition, during the early response, there was an increased percentage of lymphocytes expressing the gamma delta TCR, but not the alpha beta TCR. In contrast, the late response was marked by a much larger accumulation, in the lungs and BAL, of memory CD4+ T lymphocytes and an influx of small, hypodense eosinophils which produced LTB4 and LTC4 on stimulation with calcium ionophore. At this time there was a substantial increase in the number of T lymphocytes and eosinophils expressing ICAM-1 and the integrins VLA-4 and LFA-1, implicating these adhesion molecules in inflammatory cell recruitment to the airways. We conclude that the pattern and phenotypic characteristics of the cellular recruitment seen following N.b. infection resemble those seen in early- and late-phase allergic inflammation of the airways in asthma, and therefore N.b. may be used to model these aspects of the disease.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Jul
PMID:Phenotypic analysis of airway eosinophils and lymphocytes in a Th-2-driven murine model of pulmonary inflammation. 867 19

Evidence suggests that cytokines may modulate smooth muscle cell function in a variety of inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we characterized the specific receptor subtypes that mediate tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) effects on myocyte proliferation and on agonist-induced calcium transients in cultured human tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMC). Pretreatment of human TSMC with TNF alpha potentiated cytosolic calcium [(Ca2+)i] transients evoked by carbachol. In a similar manner, selective TNF alpha-p55 receptor agonists such as htr-9, an activating monoclonal antibody, or a recombinant TNF-p55 (rTNF-p55), which specifically activates the TNF alpha-p55 receptor but not the TNF alpha-p75 receptor, also augmented [Ca2+]i transients evoked by carbachol. In parallel experiments, TNF alpha, rTNF alpha-p55, and htr-9 induced human TSMC proliferation as measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Interestingly, activation of the TNF alpha-p75 receptor with a selective agonist, recombinant TNF alpha-p75 (rTNF alpha-p75), or inhibition of the TNF alpha-p75 receptor with utr-1, an inhibitory anti-TNF alpha-p75 receptor antibody, had no effect on TNF alpha-augmented calcium transients or on myocyte growth. To further confirm the receptor specificity of these findings, immunocytochemical studies were performed using receptor-specific antibodies. These studies demonstrated marked cell-surface expression of the TNF alpha-p55 receptor compared with expression of the TNF alpha-p75 receptor on human TSMC. Taken together, our results suggest that TNF alpha modulates agonist-induced calcium transients and induces human TSMC proliferation by specific activation of the TNF alpha-p55 receptor. Further studies addressing the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating cytokine modulation of airway smooth muscle function may provide new insight into mechanisms that induce airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Jul
PMID:Activation of the TNF alpha-p55 receptor induces myocyte proliferation and modulates agonist-evoked calcium transients in cultured human tracheal smooth muscle cells. 867 22

Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many pulmonary diseases including adult respiratory distress syndrome, emphysema, asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The morbidity and mortality of these diseases remain high even with optimal medical management. In our attempts to devise new therapies for these disorders, it is crucial to improve our understanding of the basic mechanism(s) of oxidant-induced lung injury. A major line of investigation seeks to characterize the cellular and molecular responses of the lung to oxidant insults. Much progress has been made in our understanding of the role of the "classic" antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) in mediating the lung's resistance against oxidant lung injury. However, it is becoming clear that other oxidant-induced gene products may also play vital roles in the lung's adaptive and/or protective response to oxidative stress. One such stress-response protein is heme oxygenase-1, HO-1. Since the identification of HO-1 in 1968, many of the studies involving this enzyme were understandably focused on the regulation and function of HO-1 in heme metabolism. This emphasis is self-evident as HO-1 catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in heme degradation. Interestingly, however, evidence accumulated over the past 25 years demonstrates that HO-1 is induced not only by the substrate heme but also by a variety of non-heme inducers such as heavy metals, endotoxin, heat shock, inflammatory cytokines, and prostaglandins. The chemical diversity of HO-1 inducers led to the speculation that HO-1, besides its role in heme degradation, may also play a vital function in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Further support for this hypothesis was provided by Tyrrell and colleagues who showed in 1989 that HO-1 is also highly induced by a variety of agents causing oxidative stress. Subsequently, many investigators have focused their attention on the function and regulation of HO-1 in various in vitro and in vivo models of oxidant-mediated cellular and tissue injury. The magnitude of HO-1 induction after oxidative stress and the wide distribution of this enzyme in systemic tissues coupled with the intriguing biological activities of the catalytic byproducts, carbon monoxide, iron, and bilirubin, makes HO-1 a highly attractive and interesting candidate stress-response protein which may play key role(s) in mediating protection against oxidant-mediated lung injury. This review will focus on the current understanding of the physiological significance of HO-1 induction and the molecular regulation of HO-1 gene expression in response to oxidative stress. We hope that this discussion will stimulate interest and investigations into a field which is still largely uncharted in the pulmonary research community.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Jul
PMID:Heme oxygenase-1: function, regulation, and implication of a novel stress-inducible protein in oxidant-induced lung injury. 867 27

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an important proinflammatory cytokine which may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disorders, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a naturally occurring IL-1 inhibitor which binds to IL-1 receptors without inducing agonist activity. Three IL-1ra isoforms have been identified: secreted IL-1ra (sIL-1ra), which is preferentially expressed by-inflammatory cells; intracellular IL-1ra (iIL-1ra) type I, which lacks a signal peptide and is preferentially expressed by epithelial cells; and iIL-1ra type II, which is identical to iIL-1ra type I except for the insertion of an additional 21 amino acids. The goal of this study was to assess whether airway epithelial cell iIL-1ra type I production can be regulated by corticosteroids. First, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting, we confirm that normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and a human pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line (NCI-H292) express intracellular IL-1ra type I messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. Second, using immunoblotting and ELISA, we report that dexamethasone induces time- and concentration-dependent increases in iIL-1ra type I protein within NCI-H292 cell lysates. Lastly, utilizing a ribonuclease protection assay, we report that dexamethasone induces concentration-dependent increases in iIL-1ra type I mRNA levels in NCI-H292 cells. These data suggest that corticosteroid-mediated induction of iIL-1ra type I mRNA and protein by human bronchial epithelial cells represents a novel mechanism by which IL-1-mediated airway inflammatory events might be regulated.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Aug
PMID:Corticosteroids induce intracellular interleukin-1 receptor antagonist type I expression by a human airway epithelial cell line. 870 81

Asthma is recognized as the most common treatable chronic disease of the lung, afflicting over 100 million people of all age groups yet, despite therapeutic advances, there has been little impact on the rising morbidity and mortality from the disease. This article discusses ways in which molecular medicine can inform public health policy and clinical practice in the management of asthma. It focuses on the recognition that asthma is an inflammatory disorder, and that the public health burden of the disease can be reduced by identifying environmental factors that may trigger asthma in genetically susceptible individuals.
Mol Med Today 1996 May
PMID:Aetiology of asthma: how public health and molecular medicine work together. 879 87

To assess whether Th-2 cytokines are involved in the late airway response (LR) after antigen challenge, we evaluated cytokine mRNA expression in the lungs of two strains of rats before and 8 h after saline or antigen challenge: Brown Norway (BN) rats, high IgE producers that develop LR after antigen challenge and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, low IgE producers that develop little LR and no increased airway responsiveness after antigen challenge. Rats were sensitized with ovalbumin (OA) and 14 days later, lungs were obtained before or after OA challenge and measurement of lung physiology for 8 h. Lung tissue was either fixed for in situ hybridization or frozen for evaluation of mRNA expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We examined mRNA expression for interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-5 (Th-2 cytokines) and IL-2 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma, Th-1 cytokines). In situ hybridization showed that cells expressing IL-4 and -5 mRNA were increased in the airways of the lungs of BN rats after OA challenge (P < 0.05) and that cells expressing mRNA for IFN-gamma and IL-2 were higher in SD than in BN rats after antigen challenge (P < 0.05). Results from PCR showed that prior to antigen challenge, BN rats expressed in their lungs mRNA for IL-4 and -5 and SD rats expressed very little mRNA for IL-5 only. After antigen challenge most BN and SD rats expressed mRNA for IL-4 and -5 but expression of mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-gamma was only found in SD rats. In conclusion, rats that develop a LR after antigen challenge preferentially increase Th-2 cytokine expression in their lungs whereas those without LRs preferentially express Th-1 cytokines. Our results support the role of Th-2 cytokines in the LR and asthma.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Sep
PMID:Cytokine expression in the presence or absence of late airway responses after antigen challenge of sensitized rats. 881 Jun 41

The increase in thickness of bronchial walls by such structural changes as subepithelial fibrosis contributes to the severity and chronicity of asthma by amplifying airway narrowing. However, the pathogenesis of this structural alteration is not known. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) is known to have biologic activities relevant to the cellular and molecular events in subepithelial fibrosis, such as the deposition of collagen I and III and the increase of myofibroblasts beneath the epithelial basement membrane. Therefore, we examined TGF beta 1 gene expression in bronchial biopsy tissues from five severe asthmatics, five mild asthmatics, and five normal subjects using in situ hybridization combined with histochemical staining. Cells expressing TGF beta 1 mRNA were detected in tissues from four normal subjects, one mild asthmatic, and five severe asthmatics. The density of positive cells in severe asthmatic tissues (52.1 +/- 22.7, mean +/- SD/mm2) was significantly greater than that in mild asthmatic tissues (1.0 +/- 1.9/mm2, P < 0.01) or normal tissues (10.5 +/- 10.6/mm2, P < 0.02). The density in mild asthmatic tissues was not significantly different from that in normal tissues. The vast majority of positive cells in severe (99.1 +/- 1.7%) and mild (100%) asthmatic tissues were identified as eosinophils. In contrast, eosinophils constituted a small portion of positive cells (20.8 +/- 21.6%) in normal tissues. These results indicated that TGF beta 1 mRNA was overexpressed in severe asthmatics and that the main source of the mRNA was eosinophils, suggesting that eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis not only of inflammation but also of structural changes, such as subepithelial fibrosis, in asthmatic airways.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1996 Sep
PMID:Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) gene expression by eosinophils in asthmatic airway inflammation. 881 Jun 46

The high affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) has a central role in mast cell degranulation and IgE mediated allergy. A systematic search through the coding regions of the beta subunit of Fc epsilon RI (Fc epsilon RI-beta) has identified a novel coding polymorphism in exon seven. An adenine to guanine substitution changes amino acid residue 237 from glutamic acid to glycine (E237G), in the cytoplasmic tail of the protein. E237G is predicted to introduce a hydrophobicity change within the C-terminus of Fc epsilon RI-beta. It is adjacent to the immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif (ITAM), and may affect the intracellular signalling capacity of Fc epsilon RI. E237G was detected in 53 subjects from an Australian general population sample of 1004 individuals (5.3%). E237G positive subjects had a significantly elevated skin test response to grass (p = 0.0004) and house dust mite (p = 0.04), RAST to grass (p = 0.002) and bronchial reactivity to methacholine (p = 0.0009). The relative risk of individuals with E237G having asthma compared to subjects without the variant was 2.3 (95% CI 1.26-4.19; p = 0.005).
Hum Mol Genet 1996 Jul
PMID:A new variant of the beta subunit of the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (Fc epsilon RI-beta E237G): associations with measures of atopy and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. 881 30


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