• Title/Summary/Keyword: T24 cell

Search Result 771, Processing Time 0.035 seconds

Studies of Xanthium strumarium Extract Suppressing Th17-cell Differentiation and Anti-dermatitic Effect in BMAC-induced Atopy Dermatitis of NC/Nga Mice (창이자 추출물이 아토피 피부염 유발 생쥐의 비장 세포 Th17의 세포분화 억제에 따른 아토피 피부 상태에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Kum-Lan;Choe, Tae-Boo
    • KSBB Journal
    • /
    • v.24 no.4
    • /
    • pp.383-392
    • /
    • 2009
  • Xanthii fructus which is well known as "Chang-ihjah" in Korea is the dried fruit of Xanthium strumarium L. (or Xanthium sibiricum PATR. Ex WIDD., Asteraceae. XS). Water extract of this fruit has been used for treatment of various inflammatory diseases such as tympanitis, allergic rhinitis, or ozena as alternative therapy material usually by oral administration in far Eastern countries including Korea. In this study, the effect of XS extract (XS-E) or XS-30% acetone fraction layer (XS-30% AFL) on the differentiation of $CD4^+$ T cells isolated from NC/Nga mouse and the production of IL-17 was investigated. The experimental results showed that $100\;{\mu}g$/mL of XS-E could decrease the production of IL-17 by $CD4^+$ Th17 cells by 2 fold and only $20\;{\mu}g$/mL of XS-30% AFL could inhibit 3.5 fold. The amount of IL-17A and IL-22 mRNA determined by real-time PCR was decreased remarkably when XS-E or XS-30% AFL was treated on $CD4^+$ Th17 cells(p<0.01, p<0.001). The amount of IL-17A protein determined by ELISA was also decreased remarkably(p<0.05, p<0.001). To study the effect of XS-E or XS-30% AFL on the proliferation of Th17 cells, $CD4^+$ T cells of a NC/Nga mouse was firstly differentiated by rIL-6/TGF-$\beta$ and then stimulated by rIL-23. The control group of Th17 cells were doubled every each day, while those of XS-E or XS-30% AFL treated group were shown to be delayed remarkably by these extracts. In conclusion, XS can inhibit the differentiation of Th17 cells of NC/Nga mouse and the production of IL-17 successfully, which may be a beneficial result for the treatment of atopic skin dermatitis.

Intratumoral Administration of Dendritic Cells Combined with Hyperthermia Induces Both Local and Systemic Antitumor Effect in Murine Tumor Models (온열 요법 후 종양 내 주입한 수지상 세포의 국소 및 원격 항종양 효과)

  • Kwon Byung-Hyun;Kim Won-Taek;Kim Young-Kan;Kim Dong-Won
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
    • /
    • v.24 no.1
    • /
    • pp.51-57
    • /
    • 2006
  • Puroose: We examined whether intratumoral (i.t.) administration of dendritic cells (DCs) into a treated tumor could induce local and systemic antitumor effects in a mouse tumor model. Methods and Materials: C57BL/6 mice were inoculated s.c. in the right and left thighs with MCA-102 fibrosarcoma cells on day 0 and on day 7, respectively. On day 7, the tumors (usually 6 mm in diameter) on the right thigh were heated by immersing the tumor-bearing leg in a circulating water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 30 min; thereafter, the immature DCs were i.t administered to the right thigh tumors. This immunization procedure was repeated on days 7, 14 and 21. The tumors in both the right and left thighs were measured every 7 days and the average sizes were determined by applying the following formula, tumor $size=0.5{\times}(length+width)$. Cytotoxicity assay was done to determine tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. Results: Hyperthermia induced apoptosis and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in tumor occurred maximally after 6 hr. For the local treated tumor, hyperthermia (HT) alone inhibited tumor growth compared with the untreated tumors (p<0.05), and furthermore, the i.t. administered DCs combined with hyperthermia (HT + DCs) additively inhibited tumor growth compared with HT alone (p<0.05). On the distant untreated tumor, HT alone significantly inhibited tumor growth (p<0.05), and also HT + DCs potently inhibited tumor growth (p<0.001); however, compared with HT alone, the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, HT + DCs induced strong cytotoxicity of the splenocytes against tumor cells compared to DCs or HT alone. Conclusion: HT + DCs induced apoptosis and increased the expression of HSPs, and so this induced a potent local and systemic antitumor response in tumor-bearing mice. This regimen may be beneficial for the treatment of human cancers.

Effect of Yeongyupaedog-san on Cytokine Levels of Mouse Th1/Th2 Cells and Anti-allergic Activity in Ovalbumin-sensitized Allergic Inflammation Model (연교적패독산(連翹敗毒散) 물 추출물(抽出物)의 마우스 Th1/Th2 사이토카인 조절(調節)에 의한 항알레르기 효과)

  • Khwag, Nyo-Gyu;Kang, Hee;Myung, Eu-Gene;Park, Sung-Min;Shim, Bum-Sang;Kim, Sung-Hoon;Choi, Seung-Hoon;Ahn, Kyoo-Seok
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.20 no.4
    • /
    • pp.844-852
    • /
    • 2006
  • This study was to evaluate the effect of Yeongyupaedog-san (YGPDS) on mouse Thl and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of YGPDS extract were measured as well as the amount of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells and the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and 1L-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with YGPDS extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of YGPDS extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 11% in $100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ concentration but it showed an inhibition by 37% at $200\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with YGPDS resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Thl cells and significant decrease of IL-4 in Th2 cells at $500\;{\mu}g/^{ml}\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/^{ml}$ by 18% and 21%, respectively. YGPDS extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of YGPDS extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in TNF-n production. Oral administration of YGPDS extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum IgE and OVA-specific IgE by 25% and 34% , respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 44% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 56%, and 24%, respectively. The results show that YGPDS does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Thl or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

Effect of Onion Peel Extracts on Blood Lipid Profile and Blood Coagulation in High Fat Fed SD Rats (고지방 섭취 흰쥐에서 양파 껍질 추출물의 보충 섭취가 혈중 지질농도와 혈행 개선에 미치는 효과)

  • Chung, Hye-Kyung;Shin, Min-Jeong;Cha, Yong-Jun;Lee, Kyung-Hea
    • The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
    • /
    • v.24 no.3
    • /
    • pp.442-450
    • /
    • 2011
  • Numerous studies have suggested that dietary flavonoids contribute to prevent cardiovascular disease. Onion contains many functional phytochemicals such as quercetin. The aim of this study was to examine whether onion peel extracts supplementation affect blood lipid profiles and blood coagulation in animal model. Total 48 Sprague-Dawley male rats at 5 weeks old were divided into 6 groups with different diets(C: control, HF: high fat diet, HFOE 0.01%: high fat+onion peel extract 0.01% diet, HFOE 0.02%, HFOE 0.05%, HFOE 0.1%) for 8 weeks. Onion peel extract supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol, while total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not affected. Hematological parameters(hematocrit, white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet count) and blood coagulation parameters(prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen) were not significantly different among 6 groups. However, activated partial thromboplastin time of HFOE 0.05% group was significantly longer than that of HF group. These results indicate that onion peel extract supplementation displays hypocholestrolemic effects but does not seem to have anti-coagulation effects in high fat fed SD rats.

The Value of Interleukin-12 as an Activity Marker of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis (폐유육종증의 활동성 지표로서 IL-12의 효용성에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Tae-Hyung;Jeon, Yong-Gam;Shim, Tae-Sun;Lim, Chae-Man;Koh, Yun-Suck;Lee, Sang-Do;Kim, Woo-Sung;Kim, Won-Dong;Kim, Dong-Soon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.46 no.2
    • /
    • pp.215-228
    • /
    • 1999
  • Background: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology often involving the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes. The natural course of sarcoidosis is variable from spontaneous remission to significant morbidity or death. But, the mechanisms causing the variable clinical outcomes or any single parameter to predict the prognosis was not known. In sarcoidosis, the number and the activity of CD4 + lymphocytes are significantly increased at the loci of disease and their oligoclonality suggests that the CD4 + lymphocytes hyperreactivity may be caused by persistent antigenic stimulus. Recently, it has been known that CD4+ lymphocytes can be subdivided into 2 distinct population(Th1 and Th2) defined by the spectrum of cytokines produced by these cells. Th1 cells promote cellular immunity associated with delayed type hypersensitivity reactions by generating IL-2 and IFN-$\gamma$. Th2 cells playa role in allergic responses and immediate hypersensitivity reactions by secreting IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. CD4+ lymphocytes in pulmonary sarcoidosis were reported to be mainly Th1 cells. IL-12 has been known to play an important role in differentiation of undifferentiated naive T cells to Th1 cells. And, Moller et al. observed increased IL-12 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) in patients with sarcoidosis. So it is possible that the elevated level of IL-12 is necessary for the continuous progression of the disease in active sarcoidosis. This study was performed to test the assumption that IL-12 can be a marker of active pulmonary sarcoidosis. Methods: We measured the concentration of IL-12 in BALF and in conditioned medium of alveolar macrophage(AM) using ELISA(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method in 26 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis(10 males, 16 females, mean age: $39.8{\pm}2.1$ years) and 11 normal control. Clinically, 14 patients had active sarcoidosis and 12 patients had inactive. Results: Total cells counts, percentage and number of lymhocytes, number of AM and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio in BALF were significantly higher in patients with sarcoidosis than in control group. But none of these parameters could differentiate active sarcoidosis from inactive disease. The concentration of IL-12 in BALF was significantly increased in sarcoidosis patients ($49.3{\pm}9.2$ pg/ml) than in normal control ($2.5{\pm}0.4$ pg/ml) (p<0.001). Moreover it was significantly higher in patients with active sarcoidosis ($70.3{\pm}14.8$ pg/ml) than in inactive disease ($24.8{\pm}3.l$ pg/ml) (p=0.001). Also, the concentration of IL-12 in BALF showed significant correlation with the percentage of AM(p<0.001), percentage(p<0.001) and number of lymphocyte(p<0.001) in BALF, suggesting the close relationship between the level of IL-12 in BALF and the inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the level of IL-12 and the concentration of soluble ICAM-1 : in serum(p<0.001) and BALF (p=0.001), and also between IL-12 level and ICAM-1 expression of AM(p<0.001). The AM from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis secreted significantly larger amount of IL-12 ($206.2{\pm}61.9$ pg/ml) than those of control ($68.3{\pm}43.7$ pg/ml) (p<0.008), but, there was no difference between inactive and active disease group. Conclusion : Our data suggest that the BALF IL-12 level can be used as a marker of the activity of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

  • PDF

Effect of lonizing Radiation on the Host Resistance Against Listeria Monocytogenes Infection and the Cytokine Production in Mice (방사선조사후 마우스에서의 Cytokine 생산능 및 Listeria monecytogenes에 대한 저항성의 변화)

  • Oh, Yoon-Kyeong;Chang, Mee-Young;Kang, In-Chol;Oh, Jong-Suk;Lee, Hyun-Chul
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
    • /
    • v.15 no.3
    • /
    • pp.175-186
    • /
    • 1997
  • Purpose : To evaluate the qualitative immunologic changes by ionizing radiation. we studied the altered capacities of the macrophages and lymphocytes to produce cytokines in conjunction with resistance to Listeria monocytegenes (LM) infection in mice Materials and Methods : BALB/c mice and Listeria monocytogenes were used. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with $10^5LM$ at 1 day after irradiation (300cGy) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 days after infection, and then the numbers of viable LM per spleen in the irradiated and control group were counted. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-\alpha$), interferon-gamma ($IFN-\gamma$). interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed after irradiation. Results : Under gamma-ray irradiation with a dose range of 100-850cGy, the number of total splenocytes decreased markedly in a dose-dependent manner, while peritoneal macrophages did so slightly Cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more $TNF-\alpha$ in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation, but their capacity of $TNF-\alpha$ Production showed a decreased tendency at 5 days after in vivo total body irradiation. With 100cGy and 300cGy irradiation, cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more NO in the presence of LPS during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation than without irradiation. Activated splenocytes from irradiated mice (300cGy) exhibited a decreased capacity to Produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ with Concavalin-A stimulation at 3 days after irradiation. When BALB/c mice were irradiated to the total body with a dose of 300cGy, they showed enhanced resistance during early innate phase, but a significant inhibition of resistance to LM was found in the late innate and acquired T-cell dependent phases. Conclusion : These results su99es1 that increased early innate and decreased late innate and acquired immunity to LM infection by ionizing radiation (300cGy) may be related to the biphasic altered capacity of the macrophages to produce $TNF-\alpha$ and the decreased capacities of the lymphocytes to produce IL-2 and $IFN-\gamma$ in addition to a marked decrease in the total number of cells.

  • PDF

Effects of Eisenia bicyclis Extracts on the Proliferation and Activity of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts (대황 추출물이 조골세포와 파골세포의 성장과 활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Seoyeon;Jeon, Myeong-Jeong;Cheon, Jihyeon;Lee, Sang-Hyeon;Kong, Changsuk;Kim, Yuck Yong;Yu, Ki Hwan;Kim, Mihyang
    • Journal of Life Science
    • /
    • v.24 no.3
    • /
    • pp.297-303
    • /
    • 2014
  • The effects of Eisenia bicyclis extracts on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast formation were investigated. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was tested in an MTT assay. Treatment with E. bicyclis ethanol extract increased cell proliferation by approximately 128% at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. The ALP activities in the MC3T3-E1 cells was 179% higher when the E. bicyclis ethanol extract was processed at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. The proliferation of RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells decreased significantly in response to treatment with the E. bicyclis extracts. Moreover, the proliferation of the RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells treated with E. bicyclis hot water extract decreased by nearly 80%. In addition, the E. bicyclis extract reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that E. bicyclis extracts have an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation and suggest that the extracts could be used in the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

Effect of Raw Broun Rice and Job식s Tear Supplemented Diet on Serum and Hepatic Lipid Concentrations, Antioxidative System, and Immune Function of Rats (현미 및 율무 함유 생식이 영양불균형이 유도된 흰쥐의 체내 지질농도, 항산화체계 및 면역기능에 미치는 영향)

  • 박진영;양미자;전혜승;이진희;배희경;박태선
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
    • /
    • v.32 no.2
    • /
    • pp.197-206
    • /
    • 2003
  • Physiological functions of raw grain diet composed of brown rice and Job's Tear (1 : 1) were evaluated in rats raised with nutritionally unbalanced diet including 1% cholesterol, high proportion of animal lipids (lard: soybean oil : 8 : 2), sub-optimal levels of vitamin and mineral mixture along with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water for 4 weeks. Control rats were fed the AIN-93G diet for 9 weeks, and nutritionally unbalanced rats were divided into 3 groups, and fed one of the following diets with 0.5% ethanol in drinking water for another 5 weeks: unbalanced control diet (UCD), raw grain diet (RGD) (UCD +20% brown rice and Job's Tear mixture, and cooked grain diet (CGD)(autoclaved RGD at 121$^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours). Feeding UCD for 5 weeks significantly lowered the food efficiency ratio (FER) of rats than the value for control animals, and dietary supplementation of brown rice and Job's Tear mixture to UCD significantly restored the FER. Serum total cholesterol concentration was significantly lowered in rats fed RGD (24% decrease) or CGD (16% decrease) compared to the value for rats fed UCD. Feeding RGD for 5 weeks significaly lowered the serum LDL+VLDL-cholesterol concentration (26% decrease), as well as the hepatic cholesterol level (16% decrease) than the values for UCD rats. Animals fed CGD (38% decrease) or RGU (59% decrease) showed significantly lower level of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) compared to the value for rats fed UCD (p<0.05), although hepatic activities of antioxidative enzymes were not influenced by dietary supplementation. Feeding RGD for 5 weeks significantly increased CD4$^{+}$ T-cell population along with CD4$^{+}$/CD8$^{+}$ ratio of mesenteric lymph nodes compared to those for UCD rats (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of brown rice and Job's Tear mixture as raw grains exhibited superior activity lowering blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol, and improving mesenteric lymph nodes immune function of rats to the cooked grain mixture of identical ingredients.

Analytical studies of bovine mastitis management by standard plate counts(SPC) and somatic cell counts(SCC) (젖소 유방염 관리에 따른 세균 및 체세포수 등급 실태 조사 분석)

  • 허정호;정명호;박영호;조명희;이주홍
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
    • /
    • v.21 no.3
    • /
    • pp.285-300
    • /
    • 1998
  • 1. The number of average milking cows, clinical forms of mastitis, mastitis-developing cows, and cows killed by mastitis a year were 25.7, 1.8(7%), 6.3(26%), and 2.7(10.1%)heads, respectively. The annual grade changes of standard plate counts(SPC) and somatic cell counts(SCC) showed the grade 1A of SPC diminished sharply from April to August, we think it was due to the lack of proper management in farming season and the grade 3 of SCC indirectly influenced increased in huge during August. 2. The average number of parturitions of farms was 2.3, but 50% of below 1 parturition were 22 farms(31%), 50% of above 3 parturitions were 16(23%) out of 71 farms. According to grades of the number of parturitions of milking cows per each farm, the farms' grades recording 3 parturitions and 50% were little bit excellent. 3. The actual situation research of foremilking CMT revealed 35 out of 74 farmer didn't do CMT Among them(35 out of 74 farmers), 80% did not test thanks to the troublesome process of the CMT. SCC grade 3, among farms who did foremilking CMT once or twice a month and who did not were 29% and 40% respectively and SPC grade 1A were 55% and 9%, respectively. 4. The research of actual situation on milking management let us know 29 farms(39%) did not do lastmilking, 37 farms(49%) usually did overmilking, and 34 farms(46%) did milking for 4 or 5 minutes. Grades according to average requiring times of milking showed SCC grade 1 of farms milking within 7 minutes was 11% and SPC grade 1A was 34%, on the other side, farms milking more than 7 minutes were 0% in SCC grade 1 and 13% in SPC grade 1A. Grades according to the starting time of milking after rubbing teats showed SPC grade 1A of farms starting milking at about 1 minute and over 2 minutes were 50% and 20%, respectively. 5. The research of actual situation on hygienic milking management uncovered 65 farms(88%) were using one towel which was used in washing teats and udders to wash more than 3 to 4 cows, and 53 farms(72%) were using one dried towel to dry udders not for each cow but for more than 3 to 4 cows after washing. Also, on milking turns disclosed 30 farms(40%) were milking cows in the order of incoming without isolation of a dominant group. According to grades of towels used in washing teats and udders, farms using a towel for each cow were 56% and a towel for over 3 cows were 31% in SPC grade 1A. According to using-or-not grades of dried towels after washing udders, farms using a towel for each cow were 79% and a towel for over 3 cows were 21% in SPC grade 1A. 6. Farms doing teat-dipping before milking were 7(10%), not doing teat-dipping after milking, or doing sometimes were 9(12%), and doing right after milking were 57(77%). And farms doing teat-dipping after dry cows and before delivery were 21(28a ). Farms using bethadine as an antiseptic solution were 70(95%), 40 farms(59%) diluted it with water as weak as 5 to 10 times, and on drying cows 64 farms(87%) slowly did it more than 2 days. Grade 1A of SPC of farms doing teat-dipping at every milking was 38%, farms doing occasionally or not was 33%, and farms doing it right after milking was 37% and doing after milking more than 5 cows was 20%. Grade 1A of SPC among farms diluting bethadine 5 times and diluting 5 to 10 times with water were 36% and 33%, respectively, and Grade 3 of SCC were 35% and 32%, respectively. 7. Studies on nonlactating period medical treatment, as the cows were on dry, 54 farms treated with their own hands.73 farms(98%) had bovine mastitis treated for themselves. And on applying medicines against mastitis, 55 farmers chose them on the basis of their own experience, 42 farms(57%) were treated more than 3 days. 41 farms(55%) dumped away the mastitis infected milk separately, 24 farms(32%) were feeding and milking at the same time. 8. Fifty-six farms(76%) always washed and disinfected milking machines after milking. Farms using the milking machines at low, or variable vacuum pressures, or at the vacuum pressure, set at the moment of its installation were 31(42%), and farms that did not know pulsation ratio were 27(37%). Farms changing liners when they were torn 8(11%), 58 farms(78%) said they checked milking system when there were wrong with them, 31 farms(42%) changed milking hoses when they found out problems, and 42 farms(57%) cleaned vacuum and milking systems when they felt dirty. The SPC grade 1A of farms washing and sterilizing milking machines was 38% and farms only washing was 28%.

  • PDF

Transforming growth factor-β promoted vascular endothelial growth factor release by human lung fibroblasts (인간 폐섬유아세포에서 TGF-β 자극에 의한 VEGF 분비)

  • Park, Sang-Uk;Shin, Joo-Hwa;Shim, Jae-Won;Kim, Deok-Soo;Jung, Hye-Lim;Park, Moon-Soo;Shim, Jung-Yeon
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
    • /
    • v.51 no.8
    • /
    • pp.879-885
    • /
    • 2008
  • Purpose : The human lung fibroblast may act as an immunomodulatory cell by providing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which are important in airway remodeling. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces mucosal edema and angiogenesis. Thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) induces selective migration of T helper 2 cells. We investigated whether human lung fibroblasts produced VEGF and TARC, and the effects were augmented with the co-culture of fibroblasts and human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMC), and whether dexamethasone can inhibit the proliferation and the release of VEGF in lung fibroblasts. Methods : Human lung fibroblasts were cultured with and without HBSMC, growth-arrested in serum-deprived medium, and pretreated with dexamethasone for 16 hours. After 24-hour stimulation with platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and/or transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$), culture supernatant was harvested for assays of VEGF and TARC. Cell proliferation was assayed using BrdU cell proliferation ELISA kit. Results : 1) The release of VEGF was significantly increased after stimulation with TGF-${\beta}$, and its release was augmented when co-stimulated with PDGF and TGF-${\beta}$. 2) VEGF release induced by PDGF or TGF-${\beta}$ was inhibited by dexamethasone. 3) There was no synergistic effect on the release of VEGF when human lung fibroblasts were co-cultured with HBSMC. 4) Dexamethasone did not suppress human lung fibroblasts proliferations. 5) Neither TGF-${\beta}$ nor PDGF induced TARC release from lung fibroblasts. Conclusion : Human lung fibroblasts may modulate airway remodeling by release of VEGF, but they have no synergistic effects when co-cultured with HBSMC. Dexamethasone suppresses VEGF release, not proliferation of lung fibroblast.