Oxidative stress contributes to airway inflammation and exhaled hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) are elevated in asthmatic patients. We determined the concentrations of expired H2O2 and NO in 116 asthmatic (72 stable steroid-naive, 30 stable steroid-treated, and 14 severe steroid-treated unstable patients) and in 35 healthy subjects, and studied the relation between exhaled H2O2, ...

Atopic allergic asthma is characterized by activation of Th2-type T cells in the bronchial mucosa. Previous reports have suggested an important role for costimulation through the CD28/CTLA4-CD80/CD86 pathway in allergen activation of T cells in animal models of inhaled allergen challenge. However, human allergen-specific lines and clones were reported to be costimulation independent. We therefo...

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...

Using serial bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), we have studied changes in the airway inflammatory cell populations in 20 asthmatic patients, before and after treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), 2,000 micrograms daily in an uncontrolled study. There was a significant improvement in asthma severity, as measured by symptom score and airways responsiveness, and there were signific...

Macrophage phenotype and function varies according to their polarized state, which in turn is dependent on microenvironmental stimuli. Under normal physiological conditions, lung interstitial macrophages that express interleukin (IL)-10 are considered to serve regulatory roles in the prevention of allergic reactions in the airways. However, the phenotypic profile of lung interstitial macrophage...

The effect of the inspiratory flow rate during deep inspiration on the regulation of bronchomotor tone was studied in nine normal and 22 asthmatic subjects. Changes in bronchial tone were assessed by respiratory resistance measured by an oscillation method. In normal subjects with bronchoconstriction induced by methacholine a rapid deep inspiration reduced respiratory resistance more than a slo...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, induce lower airway inflammation and mediate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility that rhinoviruses may also contribute to the fibrotic component of airway remodeling. METHODS Levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA and protein were measured following rhinovir...

The effects of deep inspiration upon expiratory flow rates and response to inhaled metaproterenol were studied in normal and asthmatic subjects using partial (PEFV) and maximal (MEFV) expiratory flow volume curves. Routine pulmonary function tests and specific conductance were also measured. Prior to administration of metaproterenol, 18 of 24 normal subjects and 11 of 24 asthmatic subjects (p 0...

TLRs are a family of receptors that mediate immune system pathogen recognition. In the respiratory system, TLR activation has both beneficial and deleterious effects in asthma. For example, clinical data indicate that TLR6 activation exerts protective effects in asthma. Here, we explored the mechanism or mechanisms through which TLR6 mediates this effect using mouse models of Aspergillus fumiga...

Recently, epidemiologic studies have shown that the lack of serum vitamin D levels may be associated with high asthma prevalence, but its effect is still controversial, depending on season, area, and food consumption. We aimed to examine the association of serum vitamin D levels with the prevalence of pediatric asthma in Korea. A total of 80 children (50 asthmatic children and 30 healthy contro...