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REVIEW

Carole Elbim¹, Jérôme Estaquier^2,3
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 1-6, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0183
Abstract Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are terminally differentiated cells with a short life span, inthe blood circulation. The prolongation of the life span of PMN is critical in their effectiveness against patho-gens, in particular in the tissues. This review summarizes the effect of cytokines on PMN apoptosis and pointsto some examples of pathological situations characterized by inappropriate cytokine production associated withdysregulation of PMN apoptosis. More >

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REVIEW

Anneleen Berende^1,3, Marije Oosting^1,2, Bart-Jan Kullberg^1,2, Mihai G. Netea^1,2, Leo A. B. Joosten^1,2
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 7-18, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0179
Abstract Borrelia is the causative agent of Lyme disease, a widespread disease with important health conse-quences. Immune-mediated mechanisms are believed to play a major role in both host defense and in late com-plications of Lyme disease. Recognition of Borrelia and the initial activation of the innate immune system are important for host defense, as well as modulation of adaptive responses. Several classes of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) have been suggested to be involved in the recognition of Borrelia: Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). TLR2 has been found to be the most important More >

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ARTICLE

Marta Suárez-Santamaría¹, Francisco Santolaria², Alina Pérez-Ramírez², María-Remedios Alemán-Valls², Antonio Martínez-Riera², Emilio González-Reimers², María-José de la Vega¹, Antonio Milena¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 19-26, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0185
Abstract Objective. Procalcitonin is useful for the diagnosis of sepsis, but its prognostic value regarding mortality is unclear. Our objective was to determine the prognostic value of procalcitonin determined at the onset of sepsis, and to compare it with other markers of inflammatory response, malnutrition and organ dys-function data. Methods. We studied 253 hospitalized patients (146 men, 107 women) with a median age of 65 years. Sepsis was defined as infection, and at least two SIRS criteria. We assessed co-morbidities, nutritional status, bacteremia, procalcitonin and other inflammatory markers (PCR, TNF-α, IL6, TREM-1, IL-10, IL-1ra, CD14 and… More >

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ARTICLE

Marco Locatelli¹, Leonardo Boiocchi^1,2, Stefano Ferrero², Filippo Martinelli Boneschi³, Mario Zavanone^1,4, Samantha Pesce⁵, Paola Allavena⁵, Sergio Maria Gaini^1,4, Lorenzo Bello^1,4, Alberto Mantovani^5,6
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 27-33, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0184
Abstract The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 and its cognate ligand CX3CL1 (also known as fractalkine), are involved in central nervous system pathophysiology, in particular, in the cross-talk between neurons and micro-glia. It was therefore important to investigate the expression of CX3CR1 in gliomas, the most frequently occur-ring, malignant brain tumors. In a consecutive series of 70 patients with primary, central nervous glial tumors, CX3CR1 was highly expressed in tumor cells as assessed by RT-PCR mRNA and protein levels, and by immu-nohistochemistry, while the corresponding normal cells were negative. Receptor immuno-positivity did not correlate with histology, grade, chromosomal More >

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ARTICLE

Johannes Nemeth^1,3, Heide-Maria Winkler¹, Franz Karlhofer², Nicole Selenko-Gebauer², Wolfgang Graninger¹, Stefan Winkler¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 34-39, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0182
Abstract Patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-antagonizing medication are at increased risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB), brought about mainly by reactivation of latent infection. Thus, screening for latent TB infection (LTBI) prior to administration of anti-TNF-α-therapy is required. For a long time, the tuberculin skin test (TST) was the only means of diagnosing LTBI, however, interferon-gamma-release assays (IGRAs), are promising new tools. Fifty two patients with dermatological disorders were included prior to imple-mentation of anti-TNF-α therapy. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific cytokine production, including interferon (IFN)-γ, TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, was measured in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T… More >

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ARTICLE

Knut Liseth¹, Malvin Sjo², Kristin Paulsen³, Øystein Bruserud^2,3, Elisabeth Ersvaer³
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 40-49, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0181
Abstract Previous studies of T cell reconstitution following allogeneic stem cell transplantation have described long-lasting T cell defects, including decreased levels of autocrine proliferating CD4+ T cells. However, T cell functions during the early phase of conditioning-induced, pre-engraftment pancytopenia have not been characterized previously. We used a whole blood assay to investigate T cell proliferation and cytokine release during the period of pre-engraftment cytopenia. The study included 13 acute leukemia patients receiving mye-loablative conditioning followed by transplantation of G-CSF-mobilised peripheral blood stem cells derived from HLA-matched family donors. Maximal proliferation and cytokine release could not be… More >

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ARTICLE

Urs Zingg¹, Jens Forberger², Daniel M. Frey¹, Adrian J. Esterman³, Daniel Oertli¹, Beatrice Beck-Schimmer⁴, Andreas Zollinger⁵
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 50-57, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0180
Abstract Introduction. Open, right-sided, transthoracic esophagectomy with one-lung ventilation (OLV) triggers a massive inflammatory reaction. The influence of the OLV on the inflammatory cascade is unclear. Data on the inflammatory response in the ventilated left and collapsed right lung, respectively, are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze this reaction in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from both lungs, the right pleural space and the peripheral blood, and to study its time course. Methods. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-1RA in the BAL fluids from the right and left lungs, respectively, in the… More >

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ARTICLE

Alaa Amash^1,2, Adi Y. Weintraub³, Eyal Sheiner^2,3, Atef Zeadna³, Mahmoud Huleihel^1,2,*, Gershon Holcberg^2,3,*
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 58-64, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0178
Abstract Objective. To examine the effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) secretion by preeclamptic placentas. Study design. Cotyledons of six, term, normotensive and ten, pre-eclamptic pla-centas were dually perfused for six hours (6h), with MgSO₄ (6-7 mg %) in the maternal reservoir [normotensive (n = 3); pre-eclamptic (n = 5)], and with control medium (without MgSO₄) [normotensive (n = 3); pre-eclamptic (n = 5)]. Perfusate samples from the maternal and the fetal circulations were collected every 30 min throughout the 6h of perfusion, and examined for TNF- α levels using ELISA. Statistical significance was… More >

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ARTICLE

Luisa Vega¹, Julia Barbado¹, Raquel Almansa^1,2, Rocío González-Gallego¹, Lucía Rico², Antonio Jimeno¹, Mercedes Nocito², Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu², Jesus F. Bermejo-Martin²
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 71-76, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0176
Abstract The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is far from having been elucidated at the molecular level. Using a multiplex system, we profiled 18 immune mediators in the plasma from 57 patients with SLE. Thirteen of them showed mild to moderate disease activity, and 29 showed severe activity, based upon the SLEDAI score. Fifteen patients were in complete clinical remission. Those patients with active disease, and those in clinical remission had been undergoing immunomodulatory treatment for an average of 10.7 months and 19.2 months respectively at the time of the visit. Samples obtained from 10… More >

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ARTICLE

Claudia Ress¹, Alexander Tschoner¹, Christian Ciardi¹, Markus W. Laimer¹, Julia W. Engl¹, Wolfgang Sturm¹, Helmut Weiss², Herbert Tilg³, Christoph F. Ebenbichler¹, Josef R. Patsch¹, Susanne Kaser¹
European Cytokine Network, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 65-70, 2010, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0177
Abstract Background. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their specific inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases [TIMPs]), are involved in adipogenesis, angiogenesis and remodeling of extracellular matrix. MMPs and TIMPs have been shown to be associated with various diseases such as neurological disorders, malig-nancies and cardiovascular disease. MMPs and TIMPs are thought to play a major role in extensive reorganization of the adipose tissue in obesity. Methods and materials. To test whether significant weight loss alters circulating MMPs and TIMPs, 18 morbidly obese women, who underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss, were investigated before and one year after surgery… More >

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