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HER gene family (HER1-HER4) encodes structurally similar transmembrane proteins (EGFR, HER2, ErB-3, and ErB-4) with tyrosine kinase activity. Dimerised on binding with a number of ligands, including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), these proteins stimulate epithelial cell proliferation. HER2 and EGFR overexpression is detected in the cells of many tumours, mainly in breast, lung and oral cancer and may be connected with HER2 gene amplification or point mutations as well as with the presence of overactive polymorphic forms of HER1 gene. The first medication of a proved efficacy in breast cancer treatment was trastuzumab (Herceptin)--monoclonal antibody against HER2 protein. Trastuzumab was effective only in the case of patients with high HER2 expression evaluated by immunohistochemical methods and with gene amplification ascertained by fluorescence in situ hybridisation assays. In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), HER2 overexpression was detected only in a few cases. Therefore, trastuzumab treatment seems to be problematic in NSCLC patients. A small molecule quinazoline (erlotinib, Tarceva) is a promising therapeutic agent selectively blocking EGFR. Phase III Tarceva clinical trail in NSCLC patients showed that their survival is prolonged and that the medication acts together with other chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin and gemcitabine.

Dendritic cells play a specific regulatory role in the immune system. In this paper, the significance of myeloid and lymphoid dendritic cells in sarcoidosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) was evaluated. Myeloid dendritic cells are connected with Th1 type of immunological response, whereas lymphoid ones--with Th2 type. The latest findings indicate that both diseases are characterized by serious disturbances of Th1/Th2 response to Th1 dominance. Our studies seem to confirm these suggestions. In the peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis as well as with EAA, myeloid dendritic cells outnumbered lymphoid ones.

The objective of the research was to evaluate immunological and clinical parameters in bronchial asthma patients from rural and urban areas in the east part of Poland. The study comprised 55 subjects reporting from November 2001 to January 2002 at the Pulmonary Department in order to have the disease diagnosed or to continue the treatment. The type of symptoms was determined on the basis of the standardized questionnaire. The patients were subjected to spirometry and skin prick tests. Blood eosinophil number as well as total and specific IgE levels were also evaluated. Significant (p<0.05) disturbances in respiratory parameters were found in 23% of patients living in the city and in 50% of subjects from the rural area. The level of IgE against grass pollens was significantly (p<0.01) higher in urban residents. The level of IgE against house dust was similar in both groups. Our study shows important differences between clinical manifestation of asthma in rural and inner-city patients and indicates that different aetiology may play an important role in asthma development.