Kyushu University

About: Kyushu University is a education organization based out in Fukuoka, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 68284 authors who have published 135190 publications receiving 3055928 citations. The organization is also known as: Kyūshū Daigaku.

Genetic variants of IL-13 signalling and human asthma and atopy

Abstract: Asthma and atopy show epidemiological association and are biologically linked by T-helper type 2 (T(h)2) cytokine-driven inflammatory mechanisms IL-4 operates through the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R, a heterodimer of IL-4Ralpha and either gammac or IL-13Ralpha1) and IL-13 operates through IL-13R (a heterodimer of IL-4Ralpha and IL-13Ralpha1) to promote IgE synthesis and IgE-based mucosal inflammation which typify atopy Recent animal model data suggest that IL-13 is a central cytokine in promoting asthma, through the stimulation of bronchial epithelial mucus secretion and smooth muscle hyper-reactivity We investigated the role of common genetic variants of IL-13 and IL-13Ralpha1 in human asthma, considering IgE levels A novel variant of human IL-13, Gln110Arg, on chromosome 5q31, associated with asthma rather than IgE levels in case-control populations from Britain and Japan [peak odds ratio (OR) = 231, 95% CI 133-400]; the variant also predicted asthma and higher serum IL-13 levels in a general, Japanese paediatric population Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that both subunits of IL-13R are prominently expressed in bronchial epithelium and smooth muscle from asthmatic subjects Detailed molecular modelling analyses indicate that residue 110 of IL-13, the site of the charge-modifying variants Arg and Gln, is important in the internal constitution of the ligand and crucial in ligand-receptor interaction A non-coding variant of IL-13Ralpha1, A1398G, on chromosome Xq13, associated primarily with high IgE levels (OR = 3 38 in males, 110 in females) rather than asthma Thus, certain variants of IL-13 signalling are likely to be important promoters of human asthma; detailed functional analysis of their actions is needed

NOx emission trends for China, 1995–2004: The view from the ground and the view from space

Abstract: [1] A rapid increase of NO2 columns over China has been observed by satellite instruments in recent years. We present a 10-a regional trend of NOx emissions in China from 1995 to 2004 using a bottom-up methodology and compare the emission trends with the NO2 column trends observed from GOME and SCIAMACHY, the two spaceborne instruments. We use a dynamic methodology to reflect the dramatic change in China's NOx emissions caused by energy growth and technology renewal. We use a scenario analysis approach to identify the possible sources of uncertainties in the current bottom-up inventory, in comparison with the satellite observation data. Our best estimates for China's NOx emissions are 10.9 Tg in 1995 and 18.6 Tg in 2004, increasing by 70% during the period considered. NOx emissions and satellite-based NO2 columns show broad agreement in temporal evolution and spatial distribution. Both the emission inventory data and the satellite observations indicate a continuous and accelerating growth rate between 1996 and 2004 over east central China. However, the growth rate from the emission inventory is lower than that from the satellite observations. From 1996 to 2004, NOx emissions over the region increased by 61% according to the inventory, while a 95% increase in the NO2 columns measured by satellite was observed during the same period. We found good agreement during summertime but a large discrepancy during wintertime. The consistency between the summertime trends suggests that the bias cannot be due to systematic error of activity data or emission factors. The reasons for the discrepancy cannot yet be fully identified, but possible explanations include an underestimation in seasonal emission variations, variability of meteorology, NOx injection height, and the increasing trend of sulfate aerosols.