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Jean-Philippe Bastard¹, Mustapha Maachi¹, Claire Lagathu¹, Min Ji Kim¹, Martine Caron¹, Hubert Vidal², Jacqueline Capeau¹, Bruno Feve³
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 4-12, 2006
Abstract It now appears that, in most obese patients, obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue (WAT) resulting from chronic activation of the innate immune system and which can subsequently lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and even diabetes. WAT is the physiological site of energy storage as lipids. In addition, it has been more recently recognized as an active participant in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. In obesity, WAT is characterized by an increased production and secretion of a wide range of inflammatory molecules including TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which… More >

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Stéphane Potteaux¹, Virginie Deleuze², Régine Merval¹, Michel F. Bureau^2,3, Bruno Esposito¹, Daniel Scherman^2,3, Alain Tedgui¹, Ziad Mallat¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 13-18, 2006
Abstract Objectives. Interleukin (IL)-10 has anti-atherogenic properties. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in IL-10 protection against atherosclerosis in vivo remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effect of IL-10 cDNA in vivo electrotransfer on diet-induced, endothelial activation. Methods. C57BL/6J mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 10 days. Expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was examined in the aortic sinus, a region predisposed to atherogenesis in mice, using immunohistochemistry. NF-κB activation was examined using a monoclonal antibody that selectively reacts with the activated form of the p65 subunit. Results. We detected a low basal expression More >

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Elena Westphal^1,*, Mona Herzberg^2,*, Ingo Neumann^1,**, Li Beibei¹, Claudia Pilowski¹, Chen Li¹, Karl Werdan¹, Harald Loppnow^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 19-28, 2006
Abstract Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), may be involved in the local inflammation occurring in the vessel wall. Vascular smooth muscle cells express the unprocessed IL-1β precursor molecule. Invading leukocytes, such as monocytes or polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) may activate the IL-1β precursor during atherogenesis. Thus, we investigated the capacity of PMN to process IL-1β and IL-18 precursors. Processing was analyzed using Western blot and bioassay for IL-1-activity was performed. As few as 80 to 400 PMN/mL detectably processed preIL-1β. PMN also cleaved the caspase-1 substrate preIL-18. The preIL-1β and… More >

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Chantal A. A. Van der Graaf^1,2, Mihai G. Netea^1,2, Servaas A. Morré³, Martin Den Heijer⁴, Paul E. Verweij^2,5, Jos W. M. Van der Meer^1,2, Bart Jan Kullberg^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 29-34, 2006
Abstract Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 is an important pattern recognition receptor for Candida albicans, playing a role in innate host defense. We investigated whether there is an association between the TLR4 Asp299Gly or TLR4 Thr399Ile polymorphism, and the occurrence of Candida bloodstream infection. We performed a case-control study, involving 43 patients with a Candida bloodstream infection and 166 healthy individuals. TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms were assessed, as well as cytokine production after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with Candida albicans. We observed that the prevalence of TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism was found to be higher in patients with Candida… More >

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Angela Garau¹, Riccardo Bertini², Marco Mosca², Cinzia Bizzarri², Roberto Anacardio², Sara Triulzi¹, Marcello Allegretti², Pietro Ghezzi¹, Pia Villa^1,3
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 35-41, 2006
Abstract The chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 present on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), bind the chemokine CXC ligand 8 (CXCL8)/interleukin-8 (IL-8), and have a key role in PMN recruitment in inflammation. Based on the structure of reparixin, a small-molecular-weight allosteric inhibitor of CXCR1, we designed a dual inhibitor of CXCR1 and CXCR2 with a longer in vivo half-life, DF2156A. This molecule inhibited human and rat PMN migration in response to CXCR1 and CXCR2 ligands and showed an elimination half-life following i.v. administration, of 19 hours. In a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced by temporary (90 min) More >

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Franca Cattani¹, Anatolia Gallese¹, Marco Mosca¹, Pasquale Buanne¹, Leda Biordi², Sandro Francavilla³, Gino Coletti⁴, Luigi Pellegrini¹, Gabriella Melillo¹, Riccardo Bertini^1,*
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 42-48, 2006
Abstract The recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) into a challenge site, and their subsequent activation, are thought to play a role in the elicitation of the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response. The present study investigated the role played by CXCR2 activity in tissue PMN infiltration and subsequent triggering of CHS. Our results show that the cutaneous infiltration by PMN, induced by hapten challenge was dramatically inhibited in sensitized, CXCR2-deficient (CXCR2^-/-) mice. Inhibition of PMN recruitment into the hapten-challenged ears of CXCR2^-/- mice was associated with a consistent reduction of the CHS response (ear swelling) in CXCR2^-/- mice as… More >

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Andrew E. Strong¹, Anne-Christine Thierry², Pascal Cousin³, Corinne Moulon⁴, Stéphane Demotz⁵
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 49-59, 2006
Abstract Chemokines constitute a protein family that exhibit a variety of biological activities involved in normal and pathological physiological processes. CCL11 (eotaxin), CCL19 (MIP-3b), CCL22 (MDC), CXCL11 (I-TAC) and CXCL12 (SDF-1a) chemokines, modified with the Alexa Fluor^® 647 fluorescent dye at specific positions along their sequence, were produced by a chemical route and their biological activities were characterized. In a migration assay, fluorescent chemokines were as biologically active as the unmodified forms. All labeled chemokines specifically stained cell lines transfected with the appropriate human chemokine receptors. The specificity of binding was further established by showing that the… More >

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Ewa Lech-Maranda^1,2, Jacques Bienvenu^1,4, Anne-Sophie Michallet³, Roch Houot³, Tadeusz Robak², Bertrand Coiffier^1,3, Gilles Salles^1,3
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 60-66, 2006
Abstract The aim of the study was to confirm whether plasma levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) correlate with the prognosis in diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Plasma IL-10 levels were determined at the time of diagnosis in a group of 157 consecutively treated, DLBCL patients. Of those, 122 patients (78%) had IL-10 plasma levels below the detection limit (< 5 pg/mL) and 35 (22%) above this value. The median value for patients with detectable IL-10 levels was 35 pg/mL (range, 5 to 2480 pg/mL). Detectable plasma IL-10 levels were significantly associated with age > 60 years,… More >

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Mounir Chennaoui, Catherine Drogou, Charles-Yannick Guezennec, Danielle Gomez-Merino
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 67-74, 2006
Abstract The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of a high carbohydrate diet on the functional activity of 5-HT_1B/1D receptors in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and on serum cortisol and plasma cytokine responses during intense military training. Thirty two male soldiers (mean age: 21 ± 2 years) were randomly assigned to two groups and received either 3200 kcal/24 h [13440 kJ; habitual diet group (HD)] or 4200 kcal/24 h [17640 kJ, high carbohydrate diet group (HCD)] by adding 1000 kcal (4200 kJ) of fruit jelly to the HD. They took part in a three-week training… More >

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Dorota Kierszniewska-Stepień¹, Tadeusz Pietras¹, Pawel Górski¹, Henryk Stepien²
European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 75-79, 2006
Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disorder which encompasses not only morphological changes in parenchyma, central and peripheral airways but also in structural and functional changes of pulmonary vessels. The role of angiogenic factors leading to abnormal pulmonary vessel remodeling remains unclear. We have investigated a cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) known to be involved in angiogenesis, and its soluble receptors (sVEGF R1, sVEGF R2) in the serum of 20 patients with mild COPD and 10 patients with very severe COPD, using sensitive enzyme-linked immunoassays. The control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers.… More >

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