The Role of IFN-Gamma in Asthma - Literature review Example

Rеviеw thе rоlе оf IFN-gаmmа in аsthmа Name Institution Date Abstract IFN-gamma has been identified to play a major role in asthma. Subjects with asthma have been identified to have low production of IFN-gamma. Many researchers have done studies in relation to the role of IFN-gamma in asthma. The main aim of this assignment is to review the literature on the role of IFN-gamma in asthma. Articles were searched using the PubMed database. The selected articles have literature related to the topic under review. The review expounds on the relationship of IFN-gamma in asthma. from the literature, it is clear that IFN-gamma plays the role of activating the development of asthma. IFN-gamma is viewed as a catalyst in asthmatic patients. It low production affects the functionality of the respiratory system that increases the severity of asthma. A decrease in IFN-gamma causes an imbalance of the Th cells that are important in the pathogenesis of asthma. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Conclusion 9 References 11 Introduction IFN-gamma has been identified to play a major role in asthma. Subjects with asthma have been identified to have low production of IFN-gamma (Plummeridge, Armstrong, Birchall & Millar, 2000). The main aim of this assignment is to review the literature on the role of IFN-gamma in asthma. Articles were searched using the PubMed database. The selected articles have literature related to the topic under review. Kumar, Webb, Herbert, & Foster (2006) in their article “Interferon-gamma as a possible target in chronic asthma” were aimed at establishing the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in acute severe asthma as well as chronic stable asthma. The study was undertaken on mice. The researchers revealed that in a model of chronic challenge of low level of asthma allergy in mice is indication of AHR (airway hyper reactivity) which is different from the models of high level challenge. The study noted that AHR is usually independent of different Th2 cytokines as well as their paths of signaling. Never the less, administering an antibody to neutralize IFN-gamma serves to suppress AHR. The researchers also found out that in an allergen challenge that is chronic but not acute, there is presence of IFN-gamma that produces CD4+ cells in the peribronchial lymphnodes in mice. Treating mice with anti IFN-gamma reduces the number of IFN-gamma that produces CD4+ T cells in mice. The study provides evidence of IFN-gamma playing the role of activating AHR which is a lesion of asthma in acute exacerbations. The question here is, does IFN-gamma activate AHR in acute exacerbations of asthma? Oliveira, F., Sarinho, S., Montenegro et al., (2006) undertook a study to establish whether the low production of INF-gamma in asthmatic patients with small bacilli calmette-Guerin (BCG) scars as a contributor to developing asthma. Specifically, the study was checking the hypothesis whether patients with asthma who have a small BCG usually present low production of IFN-gamma. The researchers compare 12 patients with asthma who had an average diameter of BCG vaccine of less that 5mm with other patients who had no asthma with scars that are greater or equal to 5 mm. the researchers also analyzed the production of IFN-gamma after the stimulation of PPD of less than 0.02. the study revealed that patients with asthma presented a decreased production of IFN-gamma when compared to the control group after the stimulation of PPD of less than 0.02. This study shows that low production of IFN-gamma plays the role of activating the development of asthma in patients with small BCG scars. The researchers answered the question whether low production of IFN-gamma activates the development of asthma in patients with BCG scars? IFN-gamma is a pleiotropic Th-1 cytokine that works to down regulate Th-2 that is associated with airway inflammation as well as hyperresponsiveness (AHR). These are the major hallmarks of allergic asthma. Kumar, Knong, Behera, Hellermann et al., (2003) were aimed at finding out whether subjects that are allergic usually produce low amounts of IFN-gamma and its effects in reduction of AHR. An administration of CIN was done to mice for the purpose of investigating OVA-induced inflammation as well as AHR. The results revealed that, treatment of mice with CIN exhibits AHR that are significantly lower to methacholine challenge as well as decreased lung histopathology. CIN treatment increases the production of IFN-gamma in allergic subjects with the risk of developing asthma. There is also a reduction of AHR after treating the mice with established asthma with CIN therapy. The study results indicate that low amounts of IFN-gamma is exhibited in allergic subjects with established asthma. Hence the question, does low amount of IFN-gamma in allergic subjects activates the hallmarks of allergic asthma? is answered. Cykotines are said to be very essential mediators of responding to asthma. As a type of cykotine, IFN-gamma is associated with a decline in lung function among patients with asthma. Litonjua, Sparrow, Guevarra et al (2003) were aimed at confirming these findings by testing the hypothesis that serum cykotines are usually related to a decline in the functioning of lungs which increases the chances of asthma in patients who are asthmatic. The results of the study showed that patients with asthma have higher levels of initial serum of IFN-gamma that are related to higher rates of declining forced expiratory. According to the research results IFN-gamma serum levels are related to following change in the rate of lung function among patients with asthma. IFN-gamma can therefore be said to be a marker of risk for increased decline in lung function in asthmatic patients. The research question, does IFN-gamma decline lung functioning in asthmatic patients? is answered. In the field of lung diseases the analysis of serum protein is an essential tool for quantifying non-invasive airway inflammation in patients with asthma. It is believed that Cykotines play a primary role in the process of inflammatory of the lung airways. The imbalance between TH2 cells that secrets IL4 and IL13, and TH1 cells that secrets IFM-gamma leads to the development of asthma. Davoodi, Mahesh, Holla et al., (2012) were aimed at testing the hypothesis that IL13 and IL4 levels are increased while IFN-gamma is usually decreased in asthmatic patients. The decrease of IFN-gamma in these patients has a possibility of making their occurrence as well as severity of asthma. The study results confirm that IFN-gamma as well as IL-3 in patients with asthma plays a neutral role in the process of inflammations. Therefore, a decrease in any of them affects the inflammation process. Therefore, the question, does enough IFN-gamma neutralize the process of inflammation in patients with asthma? is answered. Research shows that IFN-gamma as well as molecules that are related play essential roles in the differentiation as well as functioning of TH2 cells in patients with asthma. The study done by Nakao, Ihara, Kusuhara et al., (2001) was aimed at determining whether IFN-gamma and its related genes usually contribute to the susceptibility of atopic asthma which is represented by a dominant disorder of TH2. The researchers investigated the relationship of IFN-gamma and the related genes with atopic asthma in children in Japan. The results of the study revealed that the association of IFN-gamma gene polymorphism as well as atopic asthma in patients with asthma is significant. The researchers concluded that IFN-gamma and the related genes usually present susceptibility that is genetic among children with atopic asthma in Japan. Hence, does IFN-gamma and related genes add to the susceptibility of atopic asthma? Many exacerbations of asthma are said to be caused by infections of the respiratory system. Rhinovirus is said to be the most common virus causing these infections. Research evidence reveals that a decrease in the generation of IFN-gamma is usually related to colds that are severe and delayed elimination of the rhinovirus. Brooks, Buchta, Swenson, Gern, & Busse (2003) sought to examine whether the generation of IFN-gamma is related to the general features of severity in asthma subjects. The hypothesis was tested to determine the production of IFN-gamma as well as interleukin (IL)-5. The researchers also compared the responses with the measurements of airflow obstruction as well as responsiveness of the airway. The results revealed that the production of IFN-gamma correlates with severity of asthma. The findings suggested that the imbalance of the cytokine due to Th-1 deficiency is associated with asthma severity. Th 2 is not related to asthma severity. This impairment in antiviral responses is associated with the severity of asthma. The question is, does IFN-gamma have a relationship with the severity of asthma? The analysis of exhaled breath condensate for quantifying noninvasive airway inflammation in asthma is a research tool that is essential in children. Shahid, Kharitonov, Wilson, et al., (2002) undertook a study to establish the effect of increased interleukin-4 and decreased IFN-gamma in exhaled breath condensate of children with asthma. The researchers identified that the imbalance between the two causes asthma. The low secretion of IFN-gamma by the Th-1 cells is not enough to balance the increased interleukin (IL)-4 secreted byTh-2 cells. As per the results exhaled IFN-gamma was found to be lower in children with asthma. Assaying IFN-gamma and IL-4 in exhaled breath condensate is possible and it presents an increased ratio of the two in children with asthma. Therefore, the analysis if exhaled breath condensate plays a role that is useful in exploring allergic inflammation in children with asthma. The research question here is, does IFN-gamma play any role in exhaled breath condensate analysis in childhood asthma? The study carried out by Lee, Lee & Rhee (2001) about serum levels of interleukins and interferon-gamma in acute asthma demonstrates the purpose of T-cell in the activation as well as alteration of cytokine level which is essential in bronchial asthmatic pathogenesis. An hypothesis for increased serum levels and decreased IFN-gamma in acute asthma subjects was verified. The results of the research revealed that serum levels had increased while IFN-gamma levels had decreased in acute asthmatics. The initial FEV1 in the initial stages was related to lower levels of IFN-gamma. The researchers concluded that serum levels have a possibility of being elevated in acute asthma while the levels of IFN-gamma level are usually lower in acute asthma hence causing airway obstruction that is severe. Therefore, is IFN-gamma associated with severe airway obstruction in subjects with acute asthma? Conclusion The review expounds on the relationship of IFN-gamma in asthma. The literature seems to come up with a major conclusion that IFN-gamma plays the role of activating the development of asthma. IFN-gamma is viewed as a catalyst in asthmatic patients. It low production affects the functionality of the respiratory system that increases the severity of asthma. A decrease in IFN-gamma causes an imbalance of the Th cells that are important in the pathogenesis of asthma. Therefore, evidence based research confirms the role played by IFN-gamma in asthma. References Brooks, G., Buchta, K., Swenson, C., Gern, J., & Busse, W. (2003). Rhinovirus-induced interferon-gamma and airway responsiveness in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 168(9):1091-4. Davoodi, P., Mahesh, P., Holla, A., Vijayakumar, G., Jayaraj, B., Chandrashekara, S., Ramachandra, N. (2012). Serum levels of interleukin-13 and interferon-gamma from adult patients with asthma in Mysore. Cytokine, 60(2):431-7. Kumar, R., Webb, D., Herbert, C., & Foster, P. (2006). Interferon-gamma as a possible target in chronic asthma. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets, 5(4):253-6. Kumar, M., Knong, X., Behera, A., Hellermann, G., Lockey, R., Mohapatra, S. (2003). Chitosan IFN-gamma-pDNA Nanoparticle (CIN) Therapy for Allergic Asthma. Genet Vaccines Ther, 1(1):3. Lee, Y., Lee, K., & Rhee, Y. (2001). Serum levels of interleukins (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, and interferon-gamma in acute asthma. J Asthma,  38(8):665-71. Litonjua, A., Sparrow, D., Guevarra, L, O’Connor, G., Weiss, S., & Tollerud, D. (2003). Serum interferon-gamma is associated with longitudinal decline in lung function among asthmatic patients: the Normative Aging Study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 90(4):422-8. Nakao, F., Ihara, K., Kusuhara, K., Sasaki, Y., Kinukawa, N., Takabayashi, A., Nishima, S., Hara, T. (2001). Association of IFN-gamma and IFN regulatory factor 1 polymorphisms with childhood atopic asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 107(3):499-504. Oliveira, F., Sarinho, S., Montenegro, S., Neuenschwander, C., Queiroz, R., Medeiros, D., Schor, D., & Sarinho, E. (2006). Production of interferon gamma in asthmatic patients with small bacille Calmette-Guerin scars: a pilot study. Allergy Asthma Proc, 27(6):516-522. Plummeridge, M., Armstrong, L., Birchall, M., & Millar, A. (2000). Reduced production of interleukin 12 by interferon gamma primed alveolar macrophages from atopic asthmatic subjects. Thorax, 55(10):842-7. Shahid, S., Kharitonov, S., Wilson, N., Bush, A., & Barnes, P. (2002). Increased interleukin-4 and decreased interferon-gamma in exhaled breath condensate of children with asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med,165(9):1290-3. Read More