E. Dilissen

The role of interleukin-17 during acute rejection after lung transplantation

Acute rejection (AR) is an important complication that can occur after lung transplantation and constitutes a risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, which is characterised by a neutrophilic airway inflammation. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-17, which promotes chemotaxis of neutrophils by inducing IL-8 production, in AR. Cell differentials, mRNA and protein levels were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) taken from patients at 28 and 90 days after lung transplantation. The patients rejection status was assessed by transbronchial biopsy. An AR was found in nine out of the 26 patients examined, 28 days after transplantation. The number of BAL neutrophils and lymphocytes were increased in these patients. IL-17 mRNA and protein levels in the BAL were increased in patients with AR. Analysis of BAL obtained at day 90 after transplantation, demonstrated that the increase in IL-17 had disappeared, whereas the increase in neutrophils and lymphocytes persisted. These data showed that interleukin-17 is temporarily upregulated in bronchoalveolar lavage during acute rejection. The number of lymphocytes and neutrophils are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage during acute rejection and may persist up to 2 months after acute rejection. These findings suggest that interleukin-17 is important in the pathophysiology of acute lung rejection.

Impact of lipoteichoic acid modification on the performance of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in experimental colitis.

While some probiotic strains might have adjuvant effects in the therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), these effects remain controversial and cannot be generalized. In this study, a dltD mutant of the model probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), having a drastic modification in its lipoteichoic acid (LTA) molecules, was analysed for its effects in an experimental colitis model. Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) was used to induce either moderate to severe or mild chronic colitis in mice. Mice received either phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), LGG wild‐type or the dltD mutant via the drinking water. Macroscopic parameters, histological abnormalities, cytokine and Toll‐like receptor (TLR) expression were analysed to assess disease activity. LGG wild‐type did not show efficacy in the different experimental colitis set‐ups. This wild‐type strain even seemed to exacerbate the severity of colitic parameters in the moderate to severe colitis model compared to untreated mice. In contrast, mice treated with the dltD mutant showed an improvement of some colitic parameters compared to LGG wild‐type‐treated mice in both experimental models. In addition, treatment with the dltD mutant correlated with a significant down‐regulation of Toll‐like receptor‐2 expression and of downstream proinflammatory cytokine expression in the colitic mice. These results show that molecular cell surface characteristics of probiotics are crucial when probiotics are considered for use as supporting therapy in IBD.

Type III IFN‐λ mRNA expression in sputum of adult and school‐aged asthmatics

Background The increased susceptibility of asthmatics to rhinovirus infection has recently been related to deficient IFN‐λ1 (IL‐29) and IFN‐λ2/3 (IL‐28) production by bronchial epithelial cells and macrophages.

Sputum cytokine mapping reveals an 'IL-5, IL-17A, IL-25-high' pattern associated with poorly controlled asthma

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with various clinical, inflammatory and molecular phenotypes. We studied sputum cytokine mRNA expression patterns in an unselected group of adult asthma patients to characterize the underlying inflammatory process.

Allergen-specific T cells from birch-pollen-allergic patients and healthy controls differ in T helper 2 cytokine and in interleukin-10 production

Background T helper (Th)2 cells play an important role in the development of IgE‐mediated diseases, with local overproduction of Th2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐13) at the site of allergic inflammation. Furthermore, IL‐10 has been suggested to play a modulatory role in the induction and maintenance of allergen‐specific tolerance in human atopic diseases.

House dust mite-specific T cells in healthy non-atopic children

Background T‐helper type 2 (Th2) cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that allergen‐specific T cells can also be found in the blood of healthy individuals. Both IL‐10 and IFN‐γ might modulate the induction and maintenance of allergen‐specific tolerance.

Damage-associated molecular pattern and innate cytokine release in the airways of competitive swimmers.

Daily intensive exercise by elite athletes can result in exercise‐induced asthma especially in elite swimmers and this may be linked to epithelial damage.

O02 - Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in young athletes

Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is more prevalent in elite athletes compared to controls. It is however unclear how many young athletes suffer from EIB.