Open Access

REVIEW

Giovanni Matera¹, Maria Carla Liberto¹, Leo A. B. Joosten², Maria Vinci¹, Angela Quirino¹, Maria Concetta Pulicari¹, Bart Jan Kullberg², Jos W. M. Van der Meer², Mihai G. Netea², Alfredo Focà¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 113-118, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0128
Abstract Bartonella quintana (B. quintana) is a facultative, intracellular bacterium, which causes trench fever, chronic bacteraemia and bacillary angiomatosis. Little is known about the recognition of B. quintana by the innate immune system. In this review, we address the impact of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the recognition of B. quintana and the activation of the host defense. When experimental models using human mononuclear cells, transfected CHO cells, or TLR2^-/- and TLR4^-/- mice were used, differential effects of TLR2 and TLR4 have been observed. B. quintana micro-organisms stimulated cytokine production through TLR2-mediated signals, whereas no role for TLR4 in the recognition of this… More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Massimiliano Mirolo^1,*, Marco Fabbri^1,*, Marina Sironi^1,*, Annunciata Vecchi², Angelo Guglielmotti³, Giorgina Mangano³, Giuseppe Biondi³, Massimo Locati^1,4, Alberto Mantovani^1,4
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 119-122, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0133
Abstract Bindarit is an indazolic derivative that is devoid of any immunosuppressive effects and has no effect on arachidonic acid metabolism. However, it has been proved to have anti-inflammatory activity in a number of experimental diseases, including pancreatitis, arthritis, and lupus nephritis. This therapeutic effect has been associated with its ability to interfere selectively with monocyte recruitment, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here we comprehensively examine the effect of bindarit on the chemokine system, and report that in activated monocytes and endothelial cells, it selectively inhibits the production of the monocyte chemotactic protein subfamily More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Davy W. Matondo Maya^1,2, Ludovic Mewono^1,2, Anne-Marie Nkoma¹, Saadou Issifou¹, Elie Mavoungou¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 123-130, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0129
Abstract We investigated associations between markers of damage of vascular endothelial cells (MDVECs) and plasma cytokine levels, hemoglobin level and temperature in individuals with acute uncomplicated malaria, as well as healthy controls, using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of soluble endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin), circulating granule membrane protein-140 (sP-selectin), circulating thrombomodulin (TM), circulating von Willebrand factor (VWf), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Significant differences were observed between malaria patients and the healthy people in term of levels of both sE-selectin and TM. The serum levels of sP-selectin and More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Georges Khalil¹, Marwan El-Sabban², Sara Al-Ghadban², Sandy Azzi³, Sara Shamra², Simon Khalifé⁴, Richard Maroun³
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 131-141, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0132
Abstract Since the withdrawal of penicillin determinants from the market, in addition to the hazard of re-exposing the patient to the drug, skin testing for the diagnosis of penicillin allergy has become less accurate and less standardized. The assay currently used, the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), lacks sufficient sensitivity, and requires the use of radioactive material. The objective of this study was to establish an accessible and reliable method for the safe diagnosis of penicillin allergy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 18 patients who were allergic to penicillin and 12 control subjects using… More >

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ARTICLE

Manel Amri, Dalila Mezioug, Saliha Ait-Aissa, Chafia Touil-Boukoffa
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 142-148, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0131
Abstract Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by infection with the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. It is one of the world’s major zoonotic infections. Variability and severity of clinical expression of this parasitosis are associated with duration and intensity of infection. They are also related to the variety of human immunological responses to the hydatic antigens. The aim of this work is to study the inflammatory response associated with human hydatidosis by evaluating the possible roles of the proinflammatory cytokines in hydatic patients. We investigated the patterns of IL-12 and IL-8 in serum from Algerian… More >

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Open Access

ARTICLE

Theodora Stroubini¹, Despoina Perrea², Apostolos Perelas¹, Charis Liapi¹, Ismini Dontas², Maria Trapali¹, Nikolaos Katsilambros², Panagiota Galanopoulou¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 149-155, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0130
Abstract Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate: a) the differential effect of the three main macronu-trients on food intake, fat depots and serum leptin levels and b) the impact of sibutramine on the above parameters in rats fed ad libitum with three isocaloric diets. Methods. Three groups of male Wistar rats (n = 63) were fed with a high fat diet (HFD), a high carbohydrate diet (HCD) or a high protein diet (HPD) for 13 weeks. In the last three weeks, each group was divided into three subgroups and received sibutramine (S) either at… More >

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