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Diane Agay¹, Maud Andriollo-Sanchez¹, Richard Claeyssen^1,2, Laurence Touvard¹, Josiane Denis¹, Anne-Marie Roussel², Yves Chancerelle¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 1-7, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0113
Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated the early appearance of inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation after thermal injury both in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of several cytokines, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in serum, lung, liver and brain of severely burned rats during the first week after thermal injury. Cytokine measurements were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The comparison between the sham-burned animals and animals with third-degree burns on 20% or 40% of their total body surface area allowed for the study of the inflammatory process… More >

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Mounir Chennaoui, Catherine Drogou, Danielle Gomez-Merino
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 8-14, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0115
Abstract There is increasing evidence that voluntary physical activity and exercise training have beneficial effects on brain function by facilitating neurovegetative, neuroadaptative and neuroprotective processes. Cytokines are chronically expressed at elevated levels within the CNS in many neurological disorders and may contribute to the histopathological, pathophysiological, and cognitive deficits associated with such disorders. In the present study, we examined the influence of seven weeks of physical training on IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-1ra concentrations in hypothalamus, pituitary, hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal cortex in rats. We determined circulating concentrations of cytokines, corticosterone, prolactin and leptin. Two groups of… More >

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Mahmoud Abu Elhija^1,4, Eitan Lunenfeld^2,4, Talia Eldar-Geva³, Mahmoud Huleihel^1,4
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 15-24, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0116
Abstract In this study we examined the cellular origin and the expression levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and IL-1b-converting enzyme (ICE), which activates pro-IL-18, during normal maturation of murine testis. The levels of IL-18, IL-18R and ICE were significantly higher in testicular tissues and homogenates (but not in the spleen or liver) from sexually immature than mature mice. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues from sexually immature and mature mice shows that testicular germ cells and Leydig cells/interstitial cells express higher levels of IL-18, as compared to other testicular cells. Peritubular cells of sexually immature More >

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Mahmoud Abu Elhija^1,3, Eitan Lunenfeld^2,3, Luba Persky^1,3, Mahmoud Huleihel^1,3
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 25-29, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0117
Abstract In the present study, we examined the cellular origin and the expression levels of interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18 BP), during normal maturation of murine testis. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues from sexually mature mice, shows that testicular germ cells, at different stages of differentiation, express IL-18 BP. Leydig cells/interstitial cells and peritubular cells express higher levels of IL-18 BP, as compared to other testicular cells. The levels of IL-18 BP were similar in testicular tissues and homogenates from sexually immature and mature mice, as examined by western blot, ELISA and real time PCR analysis. Our More >

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Ludovic Mewono^1,2,*, Davy W. Matondo Maya^1,2,*, Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui^1,2, Selidji T. Agnandji^1,2, Eric Kendjo^2,3, Fortune Barondi¹, Saadou Issifou¹, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Elie Mavoungou^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 30-36, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0114
Abstract Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a newly described, typical, four-helix cytokine showing significant homology with IL-2, IL-4 and IL-15. It regulates IgG1 production and co-operates with IL-4 in the production of multiple antibody classes in vivo. IgG1 and IgG3 are critically involved in the development of clinical immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, the mechanisms driving class-switch recombination towards these specific isotypes remain to be elucidated. Seventy-three children with P. falciparum-positive, thick blood smears were recruited from the pediatric wards of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and the General Hospital in Lambaréné. Children were grouped into two categories according to… More >

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Mehmet Satar¹, Emin Turhan¹, Hacer Yapicioglu¹, Nejat Narli¹, Fatma Tuncay Ozgunen², Salih Çetiner³
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 37-41, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0118
Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine cord blood cytokine levels and their relationship with morbidity and mortality in neonates with prolonged, premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Forty two premature neonates of 29-35 weeks gestational age with PPROM exceeding 24 hours were considered as the PPROM group and simultaneously, 41 premature neonates without PPROM were considered as the control group. All the neonates were admitted to the Neonatology Unit for further evaluation of subsequent complications such as early neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, intraventicular haemorrhage (IVH), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and chronic lung… More >

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Ozer Soylu¹, Aydin Yildirim¹, Ajda Coker², Tuna Tezel¹, Edward O. List³, Ahmet Arman⁴
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 42-48, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0119
Abstract Objectives: acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is defined as an inflammatory disease associated with development of atherosclerosis and instability. IL-1 is a candidate inflammatory cytokine that is thought to trigger ACS. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between IL-1 gene family polymorphisms (IL-1RN, IL-1B in positions -511 and +3953) and ACS in the Turkish population. Methods: a total of 381 people participated in the study, with 117 control subjects and 264 ACS patients. Of the 264 ACS patients, 112 were diagnosed with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 152 were diagnosed with unstable… More >

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Anne-Hélène Pillet^*, Olivier Juffroy^*, Virginie Mazard-Pasquier^*, Jean-Louis Moreau, Franck Gesbert, Patricia Chastagner, Jean-Hervé Colle, Jacques Thèze, Thierry Rose
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 49-59, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0120
Abstract Two types of functional interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2Rα/IL-2Rβ/γc and IL-2Rβ/γc) have already been characterized in humans. Here we describe a new form consisting of IL-2Rβ/β homodimers that assemble spontaneously in the absence of γc. Co-transfection of COS-7 cells with constructs expressing IL-2Rβ chains tagged with either HA or MYC sequences results in the formation of IL-2Rβ:HA/IL-2Rβ:MYC complexes detectable by coimmunoprecipitation. The formation of these IL-2Rβ:HA/IL-2Rβ:MYC dimers is also observed in the absence of IL-2. Moreover, in COS cells expressing chimeras of IL-2Rβ fused to fluorescence reporters such as IL-2Rβ:ECFP and IL-2Rβ:EYFP, we also observed specific FRET More >

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Sara Scutera¹, Elena Riboldi², Roberta Daniele^1,2, Angela Rita Elia³, Tiziana Fraone³, Carlotta Castagnoli⁴, Mirella Giovarelli³, Tiziana Musso^1,*, Silvano Sozzani^2,*
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 60-68, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0121
Abstract Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-b superfamily, has a role in tissue repair and inflammation. In our previous studies, we identified by immunohistochemistry DC-SIGN(+) dendritic cells as a source of activin A in vivo. The present study was aimed at investigating activin A production by dendritic cells (DC) in vitro and its function. Here we demonstrate that monocyte-derived DC (Mo-DC) released abundant levels of activin A during the maturation process induced by TLR agonists, bacteria (B. henselae, S. thyphimurium), TNF and CD40L. Activin A was also induced in monocyte-derived Langerhans cells (LC) and in… More >

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