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REVIEW

Stéphanie Beq¹, Jean-François Delfraissy², Jacques Theze¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 279-289, 2004
Abstract Interleukin 7 (IL-7), which is constitutively produced particularly by stromal cells from the bone marrow and thymus, plays a crucial role in T cell homeostasis. This cytokine is implicated in thymopoiesis since it sustains thymocyte proliferation and survival. It regulates peripheral naive T cell survival by modulating the expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2, and sustains peripheral T cell expansion in response to antigenic stimulation. Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to severe T lymphopenia and general immune dysfunction. Increased IL-7 plasma levels are generally observed in HIV-infected patients. The existence of an… More >

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ARTICLE

Caroline Diveu, Anne-Hélène Lagrue Lak-Hal, Josy Froger, Elisa Ravon, Linda Grimaud, Fabien Barbier, Jacques Hermann, Hugues Gascan, Sylvie Chevalier
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 291-302, 2004
Abstract Gp130-like receptor (GPL) is a newly identified cytokine receptor. A recent study reported the involvement of GPL, together with OSMR, in the formation of the receptor complex for IL-31, a novel immune cytokine with a skin tropism. In the present work, we analyzed the signaling properties of IL-31 in glioblastoma and melanoma tumor cells. We demonstrate that in response to IL-31, its receptor complex recruits Jak1, Jak2, STAT1, -3, -5 signaling pathways, as well as the Pi3 kinase / AKT cascade. SHP-2 and Shc adapter molecules are also recruited and contribute to an increased activation More >

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ARTICLE

Clemens Molnar¹, Elena R. Garcia-Trevijano², Othmar Ludwiczek¹, Dominique Talabot³, Arthur Kaser¹, Jose M. Mato², Gernot Fritsche¹, Günter Weiss¹, Cem Gabay³, Matias A. Avila², Herbert Tilg¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 303-311, 2004
Abstract Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) prevents liver failure in various animal models including endotoxin-induced acute liver failure. We were interested to find out whether human HGF exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulation of cytokine synthesis. Therefore, human HepG2 cells were cultured with increasing concentrations of HGF. HGF dose-dependently upregulated the production of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Incubation of HepG2 cells with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) caused an increase in IL-1Ra levels, while interleukin-6 (IL-6) had no effect on IL-1Ra synthesis. Co-stimulation of HepG2 cells with HGF + IL-1β resulted in a synergistic effect on IL-1Ra mRNA and protein expression.… More >

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ARTICLE

Satoru Iwase, Tadashi Murakami, Yuichiro Saito, Keiichi Nakagawa
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 312-316, 2004
Abstract Changes in blood cytokines of 28, consenting, terminally ill cancer patients were studied to determine a relationship between cachexia and changes in cytokine levels. Levels of PTHrP and five types of cytokines considered to be associated with cachexia, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ and LIF, were measured during routine blood examination and were compared with clinical findings. With the exception of TNF-α, which was detected in one patient, only IL-6 was detected in all 28 patients recruited in this study. Ten patients showed a sharp elevation of IL-6 just before death, following a 40-day period in… More >

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ARTICLE

Cengiz Kirmaz¹, Kemal Ozbilgin², Hasan Yuksel³, Papatya Bayrak⁴, Halis Unlu⁵, Gulsen Giray², Bulent Kiliccioglu⁴
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 317-322, 2004
Abstract Background. Increased vascularity due to neo-angiogenesis is an essential part of airway remodel-ling. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 and von Willebrand’s factor (FvW) are known angiogenic markers. Angiogenesis and airway remodelling has been documented in asthma but not in allergic rhinitis.Ob-jective: We aimed to investigate the presence of increased angiogenesis and its relation to angiogenic molecules, namely VEGF, CD34 and FvW, in endothelial cells of nasal mucosa in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), using three different immunohistochemical analysis methods, namely HSCORE, microvessel density (MVD) and vascular surface density (VSD). The findings in allergic… More >

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ARTICLE

Davide Agnello¹, Patrizia Mascagni³, Riccardo Bertini³, Pia Villa^1,2, Giorgio Senaldi⁴, Pietro Ghezzi¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 323-326, 2004
Abstract Previous reports have indicated that the administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) decreases ex vivo tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in humans. In this study, we report that daily pretreatment of mice with G-CSF for three days decreases ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF production in whole blood. Conversely, production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is increased. The inhibitory effect of G-CSF pretreatment on TNF production is partially reversed by addition of an anti-IL-10 antibody, and completely reversed by combined addition of anti-IL-10 antibody and the cyclooxyge-nase (COX) inhibitor, ketoprofen. These results suggest that G-CSF decreases TNF More >

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ARTICLE

Sukhraj Kaur, Harsimrat Kaur, Prati Pal Singh
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 327-338, 2004
Abstract Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs)-induced increased hematopoietic activity is known to occur in various microbial diseases; however, not much is known during tuberculosis (TB). We investigated the CSF-inducing capability of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv component. Swiss mice intravenously injected with purified 30-kDa secretory protein of M. tuberculosis H37Rv (Mtb30; 0.1-10 mg/kg) showed enhanced levels of serum CSFs; maximum response (142 ± 16 colonies) occurred at 1 mg/kg. In vitro, Mtb30 (1-50 lg/mL) induced mouse peritoneal macrophages (PMs) to elaborate CSFs in the conditioned medium (CM); 25 lg/mL appeared optimal (97 ± 11 colonies). Both in vivo and in vitro,… More >

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ARTICLE

Marilena Lucarelli¹, Antonietta M. Gatti², Graziana Savarino¹, Paola Quattroni¹, Lucia Martinelli¹, Emanuela Monari², Diana Boraschi¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 339-346, 2004
Abstract Nano-sized particles of ceramic and metallic materials are generated by high-tech industrial activities, and can be generated from worn-out replacement and prosthetic implants. The interaction with the human body of such nanoparticles has been investigated, with a particular emphasis on innate defence mechanisms. Human macrophages (PMA-differentiated myelomonocytic U-937 cells) were exposed in vitro to non-toxic concentrations of TiO₂, SiO₂, ZrO₂, or Co nanoparticles, and their inflammatory response (expression of TLR receptors and co-receptors, and cytokine production) was examined. Expression of TLR receptors was generally unaffected by exposure to the different nanoparticles, except for some notable cases. Exposure… More >

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ARTICLE

Leea Keski-Nisula^1,2, Marjut Roponen¹, Maija-Riitta Hirvonen¹, Seppo Heinonen², Juha Pekkanen¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 347-352, 2004
Abstract Background. Umbilical venous blood is easy to obtain after delivery, and thus has been commonly used in many studies for cytokine analysis. Our aim was to evaluate whether or not induced cytokine production differs after stimulation in umbilical artery and vein whole blood samples, using two different stimulation protocols. The effect of such stimulation on fetal and maternal blood was also evaluated. Methods. – Blood samples from umbilical artery (UA) and vein (UV), and from the mother were collected from 23 women after delivery at term. Concentrations of cytokines (IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α) were… More >

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ARTICLE

Zsofia Gyulai¹, Gergely Klausz¹, Andrea Tiszai², Zsuzsanna Lénárt², Izabella Tóth Kása³, János Lonovics², Yvette Mándi¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 353-358, 2004
Abstract Background and aims. Helicobacter pylori infection almost invariably causes chronic gastritis, but only a proportion of the infected subjects develop peptic ulcers. The local inflammation associated with H. pylori infection is characterized by an increased production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1–B, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Since such cytokine production is often determined by the genetic polymorphism of regions regulating cytokine gene expression, we investigated the relationship between TNF-α and IL-8 polymorphisms and the development of duodenal ulcer disease. We also sought a correlation between the promoter polymorphism of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor CD14 and the formation… More >

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ARTICLE

Małgorzata Wolańska, Edward Bańkowski
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 359-363, 2004
Abstract It is commonly thought that uterine leiomyomas result from hyperstimulation of myometrium by ovarian hormones. Some observations suggest that cytokines and growth factors are intermediate elements through which the ovarian hormones may exert their growth-stimulatory effects on leiomyomas. Human myometrium and uterine leiomyomas of various weights were homogenised and extracted with 1M acetic acid or with 0.05M Tris/HCl, pH 7.6. The extracts were assayed for IGF-I using the ELISA technique. It was found that 0.05 M Tris/HCl extracts contained several times more IGF-I than the 1M acetic acid extracts. Nanogram amounts of IGF-I were found… More >

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ARTICLE

Claudio Pérez¹, Fermín E. González^1,2, Violeta Pavez³, Aida V. Araya⁴, Adam Aguirre¹, Andrea Cruzat^1,6, Juan Contreras-Levicoy^1,6, Andrés Dotte^1,6, Octavio Aravena¹, Lorena Salazar¹, Diego Catalán¹, Jimena Cuenca¹, Arturo Ferreira¹, Irene Schiattino⁵, Juan C. Aguillón¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 364-370, 2004
Abstract Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the TNF-α gene promoter. The transition G→A at position –308 generates the TNF-α1 (G/G) and TNF-α2 (G/A or A/A) alleles, where the polymorphic TNF-α2 allele is associated with a high, in vitro TNF-α expression and an increased susceptibility to diverse illnesses. Here we study the association of the –308 TNF-α SNP with the susceptibility for developing aggressive periodontitis (AP), AP combined with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and DM. We also explore the TNF-α capability expression and the presence of the –308 polymorphism. For this purpose we More >

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