Factors accounting for the association between anxiety and depression, and eczema: the Hordaland health study (HUSK)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between anxiety and depression, and eczema is well known in the literature, but factors underlying this association remain unclear. Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and female gender have been found to be associated with both depression and eczema. Somatization and health anxiety are known to be associated with anxiety and depression, further, somatization symptoms and health anxiety have also been found in several dermatological conditions. Accordingly, omega-3 fatty acid supplement, female gender, somatization and health anxiety are possible contributing factors in the association between anxiety and depression, and eczema. The aim of the study is to examine the relevance of proposed contributing factors for the association between anxiety and depression, and eczema, including, omega-3 fatty acid supplement, female gender, health anxiety and somatization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Anxiety and depression was measured in the general population (n = 15715) employing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Information on eczema, female gender, omega-3 fatty acid supplement, health anxiety and somatization was obtained by self-report.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Somatization and health anxiety accounted for more than half of the association between anxiety/depression, and eczema, while the other factors examined were of minor relevance for the association of interest.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found no support for female gender and omega-3 fatty acid supplement as contributing factors in the association between anxiety/depression, and eczema. Somatization and health anxiety accounted for about half of the association between anxiety/depression, and eczema, somatization contributed most. The association between anxiety/depression, and eczema was insignificant after adjustment for somatization and health anxiety. Biological mechanisms underlying the mediating effect of somatization are yet to be revealed.</p

Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of high-affinity IgE receptors: a mechanism for coupling/uncoupling a large signaling complex.

Engagement of high-affinity IgE receptors leads to activation of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases and the immediate phosphorylation of receptor beta (serine and tyrosine) and gamma (threonine and tyrosine) chains. Receptor disengagement leads to dephosphorylation of beta and gamma chains via the action of undefined phosphatases. Here we have identified five distinct polypeptides associated with the high-affinity IgE-receptor tetrameric complex, which apparently become phosphorylated and dephosphorylated in sequence with the beta and gamma chains. Like beta chain, polypeptides pp180, pp48, pp42, and pp28 are phosphorylated on serine and tyrosine, whereas pp125 is only phosphorylated on serine. The phosphorylation of each of these receptor-associated polypeptides is antigen-dose dependent and is restricted to activated receptor complexes. Furthermore the physical association between pp125 and the receptor is quantitatively affected by receptor phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, indicating a coupling-uncoupling mechanism. Finally, in vitro kinase experiments show that activated receptor complexes are also physically associated with tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases as part of a larger complex containing the phosphorylated polypeptides

IL-2 stimulates the production of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract Human PBMC were cultured in medium containing human rIL-2, and the supernatants and cell lysates were analyzed for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta using specific RIA. IL-2, but not the excipient detergents included in the rIL-2 preparation, induced the synthesis of both cytokines. The concentrations of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the cell lysates and supernatants depended on both the concentration of rIL-2 in the culture medium and the duration of the incubation. After 24 h of stimulation, IL-2-induced IL-1 alpha remained almost entirely cell-associated. In contrast, IL-1 beta was present in both cell lysates and supernatants and was more abundant in the latter. SDS-PAGE analysis after radioimmunoprecipitation with anti-IL-1 antibodies indicates that cell-associated IL-1 resulting from IL-2 stimulation was in the form of the 35 kDa IL-1 precursor whereas secreted IL-1 was almost entirely in the form of the mature 18 kDa product. Depletion of monocytes from the PBMC culture substantially reduced IL-2-induced IL-1 production. In addition, Leu M3+ monocytes obtained through FACS, but not CD16+ NK cells, produced both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in response to IL-2. The low level of endotoxin present in the IL-2 preparation used in our studies and the selective inhibition by polymyxin B of LPS-induced, but not IL-2-induced, IL-1 production by PBMC indicate that IL-2-induced IL-1 production was not due to endotoxin contamination. Furthermore, an anti-IL-2 antiserum selectively inhibited IL-1 production in response to IL-2 stimulation. We conclude that IL-2 is a potent inducer of IL-1 synthesis and secretion in vitro and propose that IL-1 may be generated in vivo in patients undergoing IL-2 immunotherapy.</jats:p

Co-cultured human mast cells stimulate fibroblast-mediated contraction of collagen gels

In the current study, we asked whether mast cells might modulate remodeling of extracellular matrix by affecting fibroblast-mediated contraction of three-dimensional collagen gels. Mast cells and human lung fibroblasts were co-cultured in floating type I collagen gels. The area of the gels was measured by an image analyzer. Mast cells in co-culture augmented fibroblast contractility (P < 0.001) in a time- and concentration dependent manner. The tryptase inhibitor bis(5-amidino-2-benzimidazo-lyl)methane (BABIM) were unable to block the augmented fibroblast contractility induced by co-cultured mast cells and tryptase added alone in the culture system had no effect on contractility, suggesting that other mediators besides tryptase might be involved. The amount of collagen in dissolved gels, measured as hydroxyproline, did not change after co-culture indicating that degradation of collagen may not be a major mechanism. Our findings support the hypothesis that the activity of mast cells may drive rearrangement of extracellular matrix and this and could subsequently lead to fibrosis and tissue dysfunction

IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) and signal transduction.

This review suggests a model in which both beta- and gamma-chains synergize in the initiation of Fc epsilon RI signal transduction function. Receptor aggregation by antigens induces activation of lyn, which is already bound to the Fc epsilon RI beta-chain under resting conditions. Whilst activated, lyn would phosphorylate the tyrosine residues in the Fc epsilon RI gamma-chain. This phosphorylation would be responsible for the recruitment of syk (probably via its SH2 domains) as well as other signalling molecules. Syk kinase would then be activated by the engagement of its SH2 domains and/or its phosphorylation. Syk could then interact with and activate (through phosphorylation) downstream effector molecules

Regulation by CD45 of the tyrosine phosphorylation of high affinity IgE receptor beta- and gamma-chains.

Abstract Previous studies using tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors have implicated tyrosine phosphatases in the signal transduction pathway initiated by aggregation of Fc epsilon RI, the high affinity receptor for IgE. To define more precisely a role for the tyrosine phosphatase CD45 in Fc epsilon RI-mediated signaling, we have transfected the three subunits of Fc epsilon RI into wild-type Jurkat and a CD45-deficient Jurkat derivative. Here we demonstrate that CD45 is necessary for the initiation of calcium flux through the transfected Fc epsilon RI. In contrast to the effect of phosphatase inhibitors, the tyrosine phosphorylation levels of beta and gamma after aggregation of Fc epsilon RI are surprisingly reduced, relative to wild-type Jurkat, in the CD45-deficient cells. After reconstitution of the CD45-deficient cells with a chimeric molecule containing the cytoplasmic phosphatase domains of CD45, both the base line and activation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation levels are increased. By examining Lck autophosphorylation, we find that Fc epsilon RI aggregation induces an increase in Lck enzymatic activity only in wild-type Jurkat and the CD45-deficient Jurkat reconstituted with chimeric CD45. This regulation of src-family tyrosine kinase activity may be the means by which CD45 controls aggregation-induced receptor phosphorylation.</jats:p