BACKGROUND Interleukin-33 (IL-33) activates group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), resulting in T-helper-2 inflammation in bronchial asthma. Airway epithelial cells were reported as sources of IL-33 during apoptosis and necrosis. However, IL-33 is known to be from sources other than airway epithelial cells such as leukocytes, and the mechanisms of IL-33 production and release are not fully under...

BACKGROUND The development of occupational asthma is the result of interactions between environmental factors and individual susceptibility. We assessed how our model of chemical-induced asthma is influenced by using different mouse strains. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS On days 1 and 8, male mice of 7 different strains (BALB/c, BP/2, A/J, C57Bl/6, DBA/2, CBA and AKR) were dermally treated w...

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation. Inflammation is associated with oxidant stress. Airway epithelial cells are shielded from this stress by a thin layer of lung lining fluid (LLF) which contains an abundance of the antioxidant glutathione. LLF glutathione metabolism is regulated by γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Loss of LLF GGT activity in the mutant GGT(enu1) mouse causes an increa...

OBJECTIVE To characterize the relation between bronchoalveolar and blood eosinophil numbers, serum total IgE concentration, and nonspecific airway reactivity in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 26 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE Prior to measurement of nonspecific airway responsiveness, dogs were anesthetized and bronchoscopy was performed to recover bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Repeated measurement...

Chronic stable asthma is characterized by inflammation of the airway wall, with abnormal accumulation of basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, mast cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and myofibroblasts. Airway inflammation is not limited to severe asthma, but is also found in mild and moderate asthma. This inflammation results in a peculiar type of lymphocytic infiltration whereby Th2 lymphocy...

BACKGROUND Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease that involves T lymphocytes. METHODS In order to explore the effect of Lactobacillus salivarius on Th1/Th2 cytokines and the number of spleen CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg in asthma Balb/c mouse, we constructed acute asthma model with ovalbumin to observe the mouse behavior change in Balb/c mice. The expression of GATA-3 mRNA...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is clearly explained as the unintentional passage of stomach contents through the esophagus that takes place many times during the day both in children and in adults. GERD leads to symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation, these defined esophageal symptoms are in dichotomy with extraesophageal symptoms of GERD. These extra-esophageal symptoms include severa...

BACKGROUND The role of Th2 cells (producing interleukin (IL-)4, IL-5 and IL-13) in allergic asthma is well-defined. A distinct proinflammatory T cell lineage has recently been identified, called Th17 cells, producing IL-17A, a cytokine that induces CXCL8 (IL-8) and recruits neutrophils. Neutrophilic infiltration in the airways is prominent in severe asthma exacerbations and may contribute to ai...

BACKGROUND House dust mite (HDM) allergens have been reported to increase airway epithelial permeability, thereby facilitating access of allergens and allergic sensitisation. OBJECTIVES The authors aimed to understand which biochemical properties of HDM are critical for epithelial immune and barrier responses as well as T helper 2-driven experimental asthma in vivo. METHODS Three commercial...