Open Access

REVIEW

Anna Maria Witkowska¹, Maria Halina Borawska²
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 91-98, 2004
Abstract Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) represents a circulating form of ICAM-1 that is constitutively expressed or is inducible on the cell surface of different cell lines. It serves as a counter-receptor for the lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1). Interaction between ICAM-1, present on endothelial cells, and LFA-1 facilitates leukocyte adhesion and migration across the endothelium. ICAM-1 and its circulating form have been implicated in the development of any number of diseases. More >

View

13

Download

10

Open Access

ARTICLE

Jörg-Matthias Brand, Christoph Frohn, Katharina Cziupka, Christian Brockmann, Holger Kirchner, Jürgen Luhm
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 99-104, 2004
Abstract The peptide hormone prolactin (PRL) is produced by specialized cells in the anterior pituitary gland and in a number of sites outside the pituitary. Its biological actions consist of various roles in reproduction, lactation, and of a number of homeostatic biological activities that also include immune functions. Elevated serum PRL concentrations often correlate with abnormalities in immune responses. To determine the influence of PRL on human immune cells, human whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), supple-mented with various concentrations of human recombinant PRL. We found that PRL, at concentrations achievable during pregnancy, anesthesia… More >

View

12

Download

8

Open Access

ARTICLE

Susanne Schulz^1,2, Undraga Schagdarsurengin¹, Thomas Suss^1,2, Ursula Müller-Werdan², Karl Werdan², Christiane Gläser¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 105-111, 2004
Abstract Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous complex diseases. The plasma level of this pro-inflammatory cytokine is associated with a variety of different risk factors, but little is known about the genetic background and the complex interactions. Methods: in this clinical study, correlations were studied between plasma levels of circulating TNF-α protein (ELISA), its mRNA expression in monocytes (RT-PCR) and genetic variants of TNF-α gene (SSCP), with several diseases, including obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, as well as risk factors such as age, gender, inflammatory markers, the coagulation/fibrinolysis balance,… More >

View

18

Download

10

Open Access

ARTICLE

Yih-Hsin Chang¹, Chien-Ning Huang², Ming-Yuh Shiau^3,4
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 112-116, 2004
Abstract Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are two of the most important health problems according to current gastroenterology literature. Based on the recent developments in the field of immunology, advanced follow-up and treatment modalities have been introduced for these disorders. Immune defence against viral infections depends on effective cellular immune responses derived mainly from Th1-related cytokines. Th2 type immune responses can inhibit efficient immune function by secretion of several cytokines such as IL-10, TGF-β1. In this particular study, we determined the serum levels of TGF-β1, which plays a role in immune suppression and induction of tissue… More >

View

12

Download

7

Open Access

ARTICLE

Cengiz Kirmaz¹, Ender Terzioglu², Omer Topalak³, Papatya Bayrak¹, Ozge Yilmaz⁴, Galip Ersoz⁵, Filiz Sebik⁶
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 112-116, 2004
Abstract Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are two of the most important health problems according to current gastroenterology literature. Based on the recent developments in the field of immunology, advanced follow-up and treatment modalities have been introduced for these disorders. Immune defence against viral infections depends on effective cellular immune responses derived mainly from Th1-related cytokines. Th2 type immune responses can inhibit efficient immune function by secretion of several cytokines such as IL-10, TGF-β1. In this particular study, we determined the serum levels of TGF-β1, which plays a role in immune suppression and induction of tissue… More >

View

13

Download

9

Open Access

ARTICLE

Marielle K. Bouyou-Akotet^1,2,3, Maryvonne Kombila³, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Elie Mavoungou^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 120-125, 2004
Abstract During gestation, inflammatory cytokines are sometimes more abundant than growth-promoting cytokines, and via direct or indirect effects, proinflammatory cytokines lead to intrauterine growth retardation. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the concentrations of three proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-12 (IL-12p40), as well as interleukin-15 (IL-15) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), in plasma from peripheral, placental and cord blood of thirty pregnant Gabonese women. All of these women lived in Libreville and Lambaréné, two malaria hyperendemic areas. IL-12p40 concentrations were higher in cord blood than in placental or peripheral blood. The… More >

View

12

Download

11

Open Access

ARTICLE

Anna Maria Megiovanni, Françoise Sanchez, Jean Claude Gluckman, Michelle Rosenzwajg
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 126-134, 2004
Abstract Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used as an in vitro model of myeloid DCs in order to determine a minimum marker pattern with which to characterize and distinguish different stages of DC activation and maturation. Phenotypic changes induced on immature DCs by two prototypic stimuli, poly I:C and CD40 ligation, were first examined. Both elicited HLA-DR, CD40, CD86 and CXCR4 upregulation, and CCR5 downregulation, but only CD40 ligand-stimulated DCs became CD83⁺ /CCR7⁺ , whereas poly I:C-stimulated DCs expressed lower CD83 levels and were mostly CCR7^– . CD40 ligation and poly I:C elicited increased production of inflammatory cytokines… More >

View

12

Download

7

Open Access

ARTICLE

Kathrin Lungstras-Bufler¹, Philip Bufler¹, Rabiatu Abdullah², Christine Rutherford², Stefan Endres³, Edward Abraham¹, Charles A. Dinarello¹, Robert M. Rodriguez²
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 135-138, 2004
Abstract We evaluated in a blinded fashion the cytokine profiles of patients with suspected necrotizing fasciitis. In 15 out of 20 patients, the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was established; five patients had cellulitis. Eighteen of the 20 patients were i.v. drug users. Five of the 15 patients with necrotizing fasciitis died (33%). On admission, serum levels for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-1-receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-18 and interferon-γ (IFNγ) as well as white blood cells (WBC) were significantly elevated in patients with fatal outcome compared to survivors with necrotizing fasciitis. IL-1Ra and WBC levels were also higher than in More >

View

13

Download

12

Open Access

ARTICLE

John T. Parissis, Stamatis Adamopoulos¹, Koula Venetsanou, George Kostakis, Antonios Rigas, Spilios M. Karas, Dimitrios Kremastinos¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 139-144, 2004
Abstract No in vivo data exist about the relationship of circulating granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) to the severity of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the pathophysiological events of post-infarction left ventricular dysfunction. We investigated the kinetics of these inflammatory mediators in the plasma of patients with AMI, and correlated the findings with the clinical severity of the disease during the first week of hospitalization as well as the degree of left ventricular dysfunction one month after the AMI.
Plasma levels of inflammatory markers were determined in… More >

View

11

Download

11

Open Access

ARTICLE

Sabrina Devos¹, Rosette Van Den Heuvel², Robert Hooghe^1,2, Elisabeth L. Hooghe-Peters¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 145-151, 2004
Abstract To test the hypothesis that some persistent organic pollutants contribute to the increased prevalence of allergic disease, the effects of selected compounds on cytokine production by PBMC from control and allergic donors were evaluated. Cells were cultured for six days in the presence of a xenobiotic (PCB 153, hexachloroben-zene, pentachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol, lindane, atrazine or DMSO vehicle) with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract, then for one day in the presence of PHA + phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. PCB 153 reduced the levels of IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α. Hexachlorobenzene reduced the levels of IL-5, IL-10 and IFN-γ. Pentachlorobenzene More >

View

12

Download

12

Open Access

ARTICLE

Horst Rieth¹, Maik Mörmann¹, Adriana J. F. Luty^1,2, Constance A. Assohou-Luty¹, Maria Roupelieva¹, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Dieter Kube^1,3
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 153-158, 2004
Abstract Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important multifunctional immunmodulator. There is evidence that IL-10 secretion is associated with certain genetic elements of the proximal IL-10 gene 5’-flanking region. The allelic and genotypic comparison of IL-10 expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated leukocytes (PBMC) with a recently discovered distal “indel” DNA-sequence variation at – 7400 bp revealed significant inter-individual differences in the IL-10 in vitro production capacity. Homozygotes lacking the three base pairs “GGA” (– 7400del) at this gene locus are characterised by high expression of IL-10 with a median of 1690pg/ml (P ≤ 0.009). The allelic comparison supports More >

View

13

Download

12