Open Access

REVIEW

Marie-Caroline Le Bousse-Kerdilès^1,2, Marie-Claire Martyré^1,2, Michel Samson³
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 69-80, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0127
Abstract Chronic fibroproliferative diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Fibrotic diseases occur in a large variety of vital organs, and the process of fibrosis seems common to all tissues. In all of fibrotic reactions, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involve leukocyte infiltration, the persistence of inflammation in the tissue, and the proliferation of cells with a myofibroblast phenotype. The different cell types participating to this process sustain production of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, angiogenic factors, and fibrogenic cytokines, which together stimulate the deposition of connective tissue elements that progressively More >

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ARTICLE

Jean-Marc Schiano de Colella^1,2, Bernadette Barbarat¹, Ray Sweet⁴, Jean-Albert Gastaut², Daniel Olive^1,3, Regis T. Costello^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 81-88, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0125
Abstract Mature dendritic cells (DC) are efficient, antigen-presenting cells required for the stimulation of naive T lymphocytes. Many members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family are involved in DC maturation, such as Fas, CD40, OX40L, LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes) or RANK (receptor activator of NFjB), with different, but often overlapping effects. We focused our attention on RANK DC stimulation, since RANK ligand (RL) is expressed on activated T lymphocytes with different kinetic and… More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Alicja Kasperska-Zajac, Zenon Brzoza, Barbara Rogala
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 89-91, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0123
Abstract Background. Delayed pressure urticaria (DPU) is a distinct form of urticaria, characterized by marked dermal swelling, deep inflammatory infiltrate and systemic symptoms. Little is known about inflamma-tory mediators involved in this disease. Objective. To investigate secretion of platelet-specific chemokines, platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) during the course of DPU. Methods and material. Plasma concentrations of PF-4 and beta-TG were measured in eight adult DPU patients and in 15, age- and sex-matched, healthy controls. Results. Plasma PF-4 and beta-TG concentration scores were significantly higher in the DPU group as compared with the control subjects. More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Majid Mahmoodi^1,2, Mohammad-Reza Mir¹, Parviz Daryaei¹, Iraj Harirchi¹, Nima Rezaei³, Mohammad-Ali Mohagheghi¹, Alireza Mousavi-Jarrahi¹, Bijan Nahavandian¹, Morteza Kavianpour¹, Abbas Jafari¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 92-98, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0126
Abstract Curative esophageal resection is usually performed using either a transthoracic (TT) or transhiatal (TH) approach. Forty patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomies (24 TT and 16 TH), 12 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer, and 16 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were taken from the patients, pre- and post-surgery. The levels of synthesis of T-helper 1 and 2 cytokines were assessed in vitro in the presence of mitogen. Our initial data indicated that at admission, 24 h before surgery, blood cells from both groups of esophageal cancer… More >

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ARTICLE

Carlos Caorsi¹, Fernando Pineda¹, Carlos Munoz²
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 99-103, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0124
Abstract Background. While statins are increasingly used in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the anti-inflammatory effects of individual statins, within the context of various treatment regimes, need further examination. The present study evaluates the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of the short-term, preoperative and intensive postoperative use of pravastatin in CPB. Method. Forty three patients undergoing CPB were enrolled in a randomized, prospective clinical study. One group (n = 21), received pravastatin, the other (n = 22) did not. Patients in the pravastatin group received one dose of 40 mg per day for nine days, starting 48 hours before CPB, with… More >

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ARTICLE

Ali Akbar Amirzargar^1,2, Mehrnaz Naroueynejad¹, Farideh Khosravi¹, Saied Dianat¹, Nima Rezaei³, Joannis Mytilineos⁴, Behrouz Nikbin^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 104-112, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0122
Abstract Cytokines are important immunomodulatory molecules involved in immune responses against microorganisms; they also have an important role in the setting of immune system disorders. Cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms have been extensively studied in different, normal populations as well as in association with disease. Cytokine gene polymorphisms are potentially important as genetic predictors of disease suscepti-bility, clinical outcome, and as a tool for anthropological studies. In this study, samples have been collected from 455 healthy individuals located in different regions of Iran (Tehran, Yazd, Sistan and Balochistan). Allele and genotype frequencies of cytokine SNP, including: IL-1α,… More >

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