Yafang Tang - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Yafang Tang

Molecular Neurodegeneration, 2008

Background Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (NG2) expressing cells, morphologically characterize... more Background Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (NG2) expressing cells, morphologically characterized by multi-branched processes and small cell bodies, are the 4th commonest cell population of non-neuronal cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). They can interact with nodes of Ranvier, receive synaptic input, generate action potential and respond to some pathological stimuli, but the function of the cells is still unclear. We assumed the NG2 cells may play an active role in neuropathogenesis and aimed to determine if NG2 cells could sense and response to the alterations in the axonal contents caused by disruption of neurofilament light subunit (NFL) expression. Results In the early neuropathological development stage, our study showed that the diameter of axons of upper motor neurons of NFL-/- mice decreased significantly while the thickness of their myelin sheath increased remarkably. Although there was an obvious morphological distortion in axons with occasionally partial dem...

International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2021

Extrauterine leiomyoma is a rare disease with multiple potential metastasizing sites. Pathogenesi... more Extrauterine leiomyoma is a rare disease with multiple potential metastasizing sites. Pathogenesis of this condition remains debatable with previous myomectomy a considerable risk factor. Diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge due to diverse presenting symptoms and the initial involvement of various specialties, which often cause distress in these patients. In this article, we present one case of pulmonary leiomyomas on expectant management, one case of wide-disseminated extrauterine leiomyomas including the bones, spines, soft tissues and peritoneum who underwent decompression laminectomy and biopsy of paravertebral mass and one case of retroperitoneal leiomyoma who underwent resection of the lesion.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2016

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), Nov 12, 2016

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of lung-draining lymph nodes in the respiratory ... more Previous studies have highlighted the importance of lung-draining lymph nodes in the respiratory allergic immune response, whereas the lung parenchymal immune system has been largely neglected. We describe a new in vivo model of respiratory sensitization to Blomia tropicalis, the principal asthma allergen in the tropics, in which the immune response is focused on the lung parenchyma by transfer of Th2 cells from a novel TCR transgenic mouse, specific for the major B. tropicalis allergen Blo t 5, that targets the lung rather than the draining lymph nodes. Transfer of highly polarized transgenic CD4 effector Th2 cells, termed BT-II, followed by repeated inhalation of Blo t 5 expands these cells in the lung >100-fold, and subsequent Blo t 5 challenge induced decreased body temperature, reduction in movement, and a fall in specific lung compliance unseen in conventional mouse asthma models following a physiological allergen challenge. These mice exhibit lung eosinophilia; smooth musc...

The Journal of investigative dermatology, 2014

Monocytes and their derived cells have critical roles in inflammation and immune defense. However... more Monocytes and their derived cells have critical roles in inflammation and immune defense. However, their function in skin diseases such as allergic contact dermatitis remains poorly defined. Using a model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) toward 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, we show that Ly6C+ CD11b+ monocytic cells participate in the pathophysiology of CHS and their accumulation is regulated by effector CD8 T cells. These Ly6C+ CD11b+ monocytic cells are the primary contributors of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and derive from Ly6C(hi)CCR2+ monocytes, as they were absent in non-inflamed skin and accumulate as a consequence of inflammation in a C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2)-dependent manner. Importantly, CCR2(-/-) mice, or wild-type mice depleted of monocytes via clodronate liposomes, display a marked decrease in TNF-α and iNOS expression accompanied by attenuated skin inflammation. Using transgenic mice and antibody depletion, we show...

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), Jan 15, 2014

The Blomia tropicalis dust mite is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Al... more The Blomia tropicalis dust mite is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although it is a leading cause of asthma, little is known how it induces allergy. Using a novel murine asthma model induced by intranasal exposure to B. tropicalis, we observed that a single intranasal sensitization to B. tropicalis extract induces strong Th2 priming in the lung draining lymph node. Resident CD11b(+) dendritic cells (DCs) preferentially transport Ag from the lung to the draining lymph node and are crucial for the initiation of Th2 CD4(+) T cell responses. As a consequence, mice selectively deficient in CD11b(+) DCs exhibited attenuated Th2 responses and more importantly did not develop any allergic inflammation. Conversely, mice deficient in CD103(+) DCs and CCR2-dependent monocyte-derived DCs exhibited similar allergic inflammation compared with their wild-type counterparts. We also show that CD11b(+) DCs constitutively express higher levels of GM-CSF receptor compared wi...

Background: Pregnancy associated sleep disturbance is a common pregnancy-related complication whi... more Background: Pregnancy associated sleep disturbance is a common pregnancy-related complication which can lead to significant maternal distress and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sleep quality can be affected by multiple factors and high BMI or obesity has been recognized as one of them. Various previous studies have demonstrated poorer sleep quality during pregnancy. However, most studies included assessment at only one point of pregnancy. This prospective cohort study aimed to better evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the quality of sleep throughout the antenatal period and how BMI affects antenatal sleep.Methods: A total of 926 women were recruited before 14 weeks of gestation and followed throughout pregnancy. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was employed to assess sleep quality in 4 antenatal visits throughout pregnancy. Their weight was also recorded at each visit.Results: The PSQI global score was higher towards the later part of pregnancy (6.4 to 8.0, p<0.001)...

The Journal of Immunology, 2012

An effective immune response against influenza A infection depends on the generation of virus-spe... more An effective immune response against influenza A infection depends on the generation of virus-specific T cells. NK cells are one of the first-line defenses against influenza A infection. We set out to delineate the role of NK cells in T cell immunity using a murine model of influenza A infection with A/PR/8/34. We show that early T cell recruitment mainly occurs in the posterior mediastinal lymph node (pMLN). Depletion of NK cells significantly impaired both dendritic cell (DC) and T cell recruitment into the pMLN. A similar reduction of T cell recruitment was observed when migration was blocked by pertussis toxin, suggesting that migration of pulmonary NK cells and DCs regulates cell recruitment to the pMLN. T cell recruitment was dependent on IFN-γ, and transfer of IFN-γ-competent naive NK cells into IFN-γ-/- mice restored T cell recruitment, whereas IFN-γ-deficient NK cells failed to do so. In addition, NK cell depletion reduced the uptake and transport of influenza A virus by DCs, and significantly impaired the virus-specific T cell response. Both IFN-γ-/- and perforin-/- mice showed reduced viral Ag transport by DCs, suggesting that the ability of NK cells to influence virus transport depends on IFN-γ and perforin. In summary, our data suggest that NK cells play a critical role in the initiation and shaping of the T cell response after influenza A infection.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2012

Background: Previous studies have shown that CD8 T cells can both prevent and cause allergic resp... more Background: Previous studies have shown that CD8 T cells can both prevent and cause allergic responses. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Objective: We aim to investigate the potential of CD8 T cells with different IFN-g expressions to modulate the elicitation of allergic inflammation following ovalbumin (OVA) challenge and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: To study the role of IFN-g in the effect of CD8 T cells, effector CD8 T cells from CD8 OVA transgenic (OT-I) mice and IFN-g 2/2 OT-I mice were transferred to OVA-sensitized mice the day before 3 challenges with OVA. The effect on lung dendritic cells (DCs) exerted by CD8 T cells was studied with ex vivo culture of sorted DCs from treatment mice with CD4 T cells. Results: Effector OT-I, but not IFN-g 2/2 OT-I CD8 T cells, attenuated eosinophilia and mucus secretion in the lungs of sensitized mice in an antigen-specific manner. Effector IFNg 2/2 OT-I CD8 T cells displayed a Tc2-/Tc17-biased phenotype with weaker cytotoxicity and were able to both induce and exacerbate eosinophilia as well as neutrophilia. OT-I CD8 T cells increased the ability of lung CD11b 1 CD103 2 DCs to both prime the differentiation of naive OVA-specific CD4 T cells toward a T H 1 phenotype and enhance IFN-g production by antigen-experienced lung CD4 T cells. Conclusion: Effector CD8 T cells attenuate pulmonary inflammation and alter the ability of DCs within the allergic lung to polarize T cells to a T H 1 phenotype during a T H 2 response. In the absence of IFN-g, CD8 T cells assume a Tc2-/Tc17-biased phenotype and potentiate inflammation. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;129:1611-20.)